Breaking: Bomb rocks Shia procession in Potiskum, scores dead

A procession of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria commonly called Shia was rocked by a suicide bomber on Monday in Potiskum town, Yobe state. Scores of people were killed in the bomb attack Daily Trust learnt. The suicide bomber reportedly embedded himself in the procession as a member and detonated the explosive as […]

A procession of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria commonly called Shia was rocked by a suicide bomber on Monday in Potiskum town, Yobe state.

Scores of people were killed in the bomb attack Daily Trust learnt.

The suicide bomber reportedly embedded himself in the procession as a member and detonated the explosive as they moved around the town.

Potiskum is the second largest town in Yobe state after the capital, Damaturu.

Daily Trust further learnt that when armed soldiers came to the scene of the bombing, the crowed engaged them in a skirmish and the soldiers opened fire on the crowed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Mr Markus Danladi, the Commissioner of Police in the State to have confirmed the blast shortly after the incident.

Danladi said: “I am just receiving a sketchy report of the incident. We are yet to receive the details because it is just happening now.

“I am on my way to Potiskum to see things for myself,” the commissioner said.

Ashura day is the tenth day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and is marked by Shia Muslims annually to mourn the killing of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Husain, his family members and followers in the plains of Karbala 1, 375 years ago.

Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky had alleged on Sunday that he uncovered plans by the Nigerian military to attack the Ashura procession scheduled to hold on Monday in Zaria and other cities.
‎Sheikh Zakzaky, whose three sons and 31 followers were gunned down in July 25 in Zaria by Nigerian soldiers during a peaceful procession in solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli occupation said troops and ammunition had been deployed to Zaria ready for the attack.