Security is on high alert in and around Kano metropolis, northwest Nigeria over the recent killings of Shiites in Kaduna.
A reporter in the ancient city reports that a combine team of Army and Police personnel are patrolling the state in an effort to ensure safety of lives and properties and
The move by the security agencies is meant to prevent a spillover of the crisis in Kano state as the state borders Kaduna state.
Kano is also the second home to Shiites activities after Zaria, but the city been enjoying relative calm despite the circulation of news about the death of the state leader and Amir, the late Sheikh Muhammadu Turi.
Across the state, people were seen going about their legitimate businesses and shops, schools, offices and markets are in full operations without any element of threat or unrest.
In Sabon Gari, an area populated by non-indigenes, the situation is calm and business commercial activities especially at Muhammad Abubakar Rimi Market are in full swing, as everyone is going about their business.
Recall that the Nigerian army and members of the Shiite Muslim sect, in Zaria, Kaduna state, were involved in a disputed incident which led to the killing of scores of the sect’s members on Saturday, December 12.
An official statement by Colonel Sani Usman, the army spokesperson, revealed that prior to the bloodbath in Zaria, a convoy containing Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s chief of army staff, was attacked by the Shiite sect on the orders of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.
The attack allegedly took place while Buratai was on his way to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau and attend the passing out parade of 73 regular recruits at a depot of the Nigerian army in Zaria.
A similar face-off last year reportedly resulted in the death of many members, including the sons of the movement’s leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, December 15, received a call from his Iranian counterpart over the crisis.
According to various Iranian media outfits, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran urged Buhari to act on the issue and ”not allow a small matter degenerate into a bigger one.”
