Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiite  Monday morning clashed with the police in the Tamburawa area of Kano State leading to a temporary lockdown of the area.

The Shiite group has been having a running battle with both Kaduna and Kano state governments. The Monday skirmish in Kano was said to have started when the police tried to stop a protest by the Shiite sect. a situation that resulted in a confrontation.

The face-off turned bloody as police sergeant and no fewer than 20 Shiite members were feared killed in the ensuing gun duel. Kano  State Commissioner of police, Rabiu Yusuf, who was on ground while the skirmish lasted, placed the casualty figure at nine including the police man. The Shiite members were said to be on a historic trek that blocked traffic  and brought the sect members face to face with motorists prompting the police to step in to restore order. But the arrival of the policemen seemed to have angered the Shiite members who got violent. They were said to have snatched an AK-47 rifle from the police which they used to attack both the police and members of the public.

The police have since deployed heavily armed mobile police officers to the area.

The IMN had late on Sunday accused Nigerian soldiers of plotting to stop their symbolic trek. The group in a statement said:

“Soldiers mounted a check point at the outskirts of Potiskum, Yobe state, probably to stop members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) from leaving the town to join others in this year’s annual Arbaeen Trek to Zaria, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) scheduled to commence from Kano this week.

“The soldiers detained a trailer carrying the personal belongings of those going to Kano for the trek today.

“Apparently, the soldiers have some sinister motives as they were overheard scheming to plant weapons in the luggage and thereafter claim that these bags with the weapons belong to members of the IMN.

“Throughout the nearly four decades of the existence of the IMN, it has never stockpiled, carried or used weapons. It never had any cause to, even in the face of provocation.

“IMN therefore wishes to alert the general public over this evil plot, and categorically reject and disown any attempt by the security services to plant any fake evidence against members of the Islamic Movement (IMN).”