After losing over 350 members to a confrontation with operatives of the Nigerian army late last year, Shiite members in Kaduna have been hit by angry youths.
The woes of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria whose leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky has been incarcerated by the Directorate of State Security has been compounded with an attack on some members by angry youths in the northern part of the country.
According to Premium Times, angry youths in Tudun Wada, Kaduna, on Wednesday morning set fire to the home of Mukhtar Sahabi, a leader of the Shi’a Islamic sect, along Zango Road.
A resident who was at the scene confirmed the incident to a correspondent. The youths, believed to be residents of the area, attacked some members of the Shiite sect who were living in the house.
“I was wondering what was going on this morning when I saw youth in hundreds setting the house on fire,” said the witness. “Before the security operatives could come all of them had gone.”
Sahabi Mukhtar is the leader of the Shia sect in Kaduna and is popularly called the governor. The area has been cordoned by security operatives.
“We are standing at distance to see what next is going to happen. But there is peace around the area,” the witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, said.
The attack came a day after a standoff between soldiers and members of the group, outlawed last week by the Kaduna government.