Nigerian Shiites claim higher death toll in clashes with police

Nigerian Shiites have accused the police of killing more than eight shiites during a crack down on the minority group.

The clashes occured as members of the Shiite sect embarked on their yearly pilgrimage.

The police has also been accused of hiding corpses from the mortuary so as to falsify figures.

“They started by throwing tear gas and then proceeded to shoot, killing and wounding others,” Shiite representative, Sanusi Abdulkadir said.

The police say they will not allow anybody to hold the state to ransom and have accused the Shiites of sparking the violence.

“Shiite members who were armed with bows and arrows, catapults with metal bolts, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons attacked the police, killing one policeman and critically injured one other. I have been made to understand that three additional policemen were also injured,” Kano police commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf told reporters.

An estimated 348 Shiites were massacred between December 12 and 14 2015. Government officials have been accused of delaying investigations in tracking down those responsible.