4 Dead as Mob Attacks Shi’a Members in Kaduna

The Kaduna State government”s standoff with the Shi’a Islamic sect took a turn for the worse Wednesday when an irate mob in the Tudun Wada part of town stormed the house of popular Shi’a leader, Mukhtar Sahabi, and set it ablaze.

It is also reported that Shi’a members who reside with the cleric, popularly referred to as ‘the governor’, were also attacked by the youths who reportedly gathered from Tudun Wada and environs.

Premium Times report that  four members of the sect have been confirmed dead.

The attack  coms a day after a confrontation between soldiers and members of the group, outlawed last week by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

“I was wondering what was going on this morning when I saw youth in hundreds setting the house on fire,” an eyewitness said.

“Before the security operatives could come all of them had gone.”

“We are standing at distance to see what next is going to happen. But there is peace around the area.”

The military on Tuesday interrupted a gathering of worshippers who were commemorating historical events associated with the Islamic month of Muharram that are particularly significant in the Shi’a calendar.