Two days after the leader of the Shi’ia sect in Nigeria, Ibrahim Zakzaky was reportedly arrested by the military, a picture showing him bleeding after apparent torture has gone viral.
On Saturday, members of the sect clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State resulting in the loss of more than 20 lives, a correction from the earlier reports of 300 deaths.
The army blamed the sect for the violence, saying the convoy of Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was attacked in a bid to assassinate him.
Addressing the media on Monday, Buratai said it was God who helped him escape the Shi’ia attack.
However, there were reports that Zakzaky was arrested, while the headquarters of the sect was razeed but the army denied arresting the sect leader, claiming that he is safe and would “address his members” in due course.
“El-Zakzaky and his wife are in safe custody in a safe military facility here and in due time, he will speak to his members,” Adeniyi Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division of the army, said at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday.
The violent clash between the army and Shiites has been generating attention across the world; Iran has called on the Federal Government to take action to end the violence and save Shiek Zakzaky and other members.
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto has also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the clash, reminding the government that the Boko Haram insurgency started on a similar note.
-The Cable
