The latest update in the ongoing clash between Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the Shi’ite Movement took a more dangerous dimension as soldiers Sunday raided the residence of the Shi’ite leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and arrested him.
Insiders in the Islamic sect said Zakzaky’s wife, Malama Zeenat; his son Sayyid Aliyu, and over 300 members of the Shi’ites, including senior members, were killed by the soldiers.
Others killed by the troops, according to the President of Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Ibrahim Musa, in the over 24-hour long raid, included the leader of the Kano Centre and Zakzaky’s Deputy, Sheikh Muhammad Mahmud Turi; the movement’s Medical Director, Dr Mustapha Sa’eed; the spokesman of the group, Malam Ibrahim Usman and a top female leader Jummai Gilima.
The late Mahmud Turi was a columnist with LEADERSHIP newspapers and wrote every Friday.
The private house of Sheikh Zakzaky as well as the sect’s headquarters along Sokoto Road, Zaria, was also razed by the troops in a counter-attack said to have been ignited by the alleged blockade of the route of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai.
According to sources at the scene of the bloody clash, the killings took place at three different locations: The residence of the revered leader of the Movement at Gyallesu; the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA, and the Darur Rahma along Zaria-Jos Road where many unarmed people were killed.
Soldiers were brutally merciless in killing our members – Shi’ite Movement
The Shi’ite Movement told our correspondent Sunday that the killings were so brutal at Gyallesu that even those previously injured in the shooting were identified and mercilessly killed in cold blood by the soldiers.
The group’s Spokesman Ibrahim Musa said, “And as at the time of writing this press release, the victims number into their hundreds, if not thousands.
“Considering the gross violation of fundamental human rights and extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, the Islamic Movement hereby condemns these unjustifiable acts.
“We state categorically that the claim by the Army that members of the Movement attempted to assassinate the chief of army staff was a blatant lie as the Army came back to launch their attack more than an hour after the COAS had passed.
“Clearly, the Nigerian government, through its military, is now on rampage, in an all-out war with the Islamic Movement, its members and structures. The scale of this attack would suggest it was meticulously planned by the authorities and is now being executed ruthlessly. The alleged attack on COAS Burutai was just an alibi.
“Therefore, with all pointers at the government as the contractor of the killings, we hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to intervene and seek redress for the victims and their family members as many innocent people were being killed and many others severely injured.”
On the whereabouts of their leader, the group said: “There is no idea as to the whereabouts of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, nor his current condition.”
In Zaria, the action to raze the two places commenced Saturday night.
Our reporter who visited Hussainiya, the scene of the incident and headquarters of Shi’ite, reports that the area had been set ablaze and demolished, and that by the time of filing this report, the headquarters of Shi’ite was still on fire.
One of the residents of Gyellesu, Mal Tukur said, “All residents of the area were advised to vacate the area for security reasons, to enable the soldiers carry out their assignment without hitches.
“That’s why we came out of Gyellesu. Initially, the place was under siege. The residential house of El-Zakzaky has been demolished. We had a sleepless night yesterday; there were sporadic shootings in the area throughout the night. We had never experienced this kind of thing in our lives.”
Another source who hinted how 50 Shi’ite followers were killed said that Gyellesu and Hussainiya areas were all cordoned off by security operatives, while movement was strictly prohibited.
However, movement in other places within Zaria and its environs was not restricted as people went about their normal day-to-day activities.
All efforts to get official confirmation about the demolition from the military failed as the telephone line of spokesperson for the Depot Nigerian Army, Cpt Olabisi Ayeni, did not go through.
Why we attacked Sect – Nigerian Army
Meanwhile the Nigerian Army through its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman has described the incident as ‘most unfortunate’ but blamed the sect for blocking roads meant for the public, thus taking the laws into its hands.
“Yesterday’s incident involving clashes between detachments of the Nigerian Army, accompanying the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General TY Buratai and followers of Sheikh Ibrahim El Zak-Zaky, suspected to be members of the Shiite Sect in Zaria, leading to loss of lives as a result of the Shiite group members’ blocking roads and not allowing other passers-by to go about their lawful businesses and activities, was most unfortunate,” Col. Usman said.
“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees the rights of any group of persons and Sheikh El Zak Zaky’s followers to hold a peaceful march or procession unhindered, but it also guarantees other people’s rights of way on public highways. It is important to note that over the years, this group has subjected ordinary citizens using public roads to untold hardship, delays, threats and disruption simply because they insist on using public space irrespective of inconvenience and hardship on other law-abiding citizens and motorists.
“This cannot be tolerated and must stop! As soon as order is restored to the situation in Zaria city and its environs, the police will conduct an enquiry and the public will be informed. In the meantime, the public is advised to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious persons or incidents to the police,” the Nigerian Army said while refusing to confirm nor deny the arrest of Sheikh Zakzaky.
Zaria protest spreads to North-East
Meanwhile, tension has heightened in Potiskum, the commercial city of Yobe State, as members of Shia Islamic Movement protested Saturday’s killing of their members during a face-off with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Soldiers in the security detail of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai were said to have opened fire when members of the Shia movement allegedly attacked the convoy of the army chief.
In Potiskum, one of the major towns where the Shia movement has its strong presence in northeast Nigeria, the group responded to the Zaria incidence by embarking on a peaceful protest march.
The first phase of the protest started at about 1am and lasted till 3am when the group took to the streets, chanting Islamic slogans.
Residents who knew the capacity of the group to foment disturbance had a sleepless night as they feared a possible escalation of the protest.
Clad in all-black attire, the group staged the second protest which started at about 8:30am and continued for about three hours. The group moved in a slow procession along the streets of Potiskum even as residents kept out of their way to avoid sparking a clash.
Security operatives in Potiskum tactfully avoided the streets to prevent any form of provocation.
Muhammed Audu, a resident of Potiskum, said every resident was afraid.
“There is tension everywhere in Potiskum,” he said. “We are all living in fear now and the town is under serious tension.
“Everyone is being careful and keeping to their neighbourhoods as they (the sect) protest in the streets. They were dressed in black: men and women, some of the women with babies on their backs.”
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the Yobe State capital, as well as the neighbouring Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to avoid a possible spill-over and escalation of the crisis.
-Leadership
