Following Saturday’s violent clash between Nigerian Army and members of the Shiite Muslim sect, in Zaria, Kaduna State, there has been war of words over who instigated the clash that led to the death of members of the religious sect.
While the Army is accusing the Shiites of attempting to assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Islamic movement said soldiers simply decided to attack “defenceless people.”
A statement by the Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said the Shiite members barricaded the road on which Gen. Buratai’s motorcade was passing to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau, and also attend a review parade by 73 Regular Recruit Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.
“The sect numbering hundreds carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres,” he said.
Usman also said the Shiite members “refused all entreaties to disperse and then started firing and pelting the convoy with dangerous objects.”
He said the barricade was obviously a deliberate attempt to assassinate Buratai and members of his entourage.
“The troops responsible for the safety and security of the Chief of Army Staff on hearing explosion and firing, were left with no choice than to defend him and the convoy at all cost as well as open up the barricaded road for law-abiding citizens,” he said.
“This is in line with the Nigerian Army Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated from any individual or groups and should not be allowed to repeat itself,” the statement said.
The army said the sect carried out the attempt on Buratai’s life on the instructions of Ibrahim El-zakzaky, the leader of the Shiite group.
But in a swift reaction, the El-zakzaky-led Shiite sect said the Army spokesperson was lying.
A statement by Isak K and posted on the website of the sect, said the claim that the COAS “narrowly escaped assassination as a result of attack from Muslim brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement is a blatant lie.”
The statement said Usman’s claim “raises series of questions in the mind of right-thinking people.”
It said members of the movement who were unarmed were gathered for a ceremony at their Husainiyyah base, to change the flag on the dome of the building to herald the beginning of the month of Rabiul/Auwal – the birth month of the Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad.
“Any excuse given by the military as reason for besieging Hussainiyyah and firing for hours, leading to the death of yet to be specified number of people, is considered a lie of the decade,” the movement said.
-Vanguard