The Islamic Movement in Nigeria says at least a dozen of its members were killed Tuesday when live bullets were fired by the police during their Ashura procession which held across the country.

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At least three people were confirmed killed in Kaduna and 10 others injured some fatally when thousands of IMN members also known as Shi’ite trooped out in the early hours of Tuesday.

In Bauchi Township reports also have it that three people were killed during the police clampdown on the procession while the same number of fatalities was recorded in Azare also in Bauchi state, and Gombe State also recorded fatalities as three IMN members also lost their lives.

According to a statement by Ibrahim Musa, the President, Media Forum of the IMN, there were fatalities recorded at Ilela and Goronyo in Sokoto and Malumfashi in Katsina State, while in Katsina town, several IMN members sustained bullet wounds when the police shot live bullets at the people on the procession.

The Federal Capital which had in recent weeks been a hotbed of violent clashes between the group and the Police was relatively quiet as there was a low-key process in Abuja.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian government has proscribed the Shi’ite group and as has given it a terrorist tag, thus making all activities of the members of the group illegal, a matter that is a subject of ongoing litigation.