Scores Die In Army, Shi’ite Clash In Zaria

Military officers chat with members of the group to clear the blockage off Zaria road yesterday.

They attempted to assassinate our COAS in Zaria - Army... It is not true - Shi’ite... El-Rufai Meets Army Chief, Calls Al-Zakzaky

Many people were feared dead yesterday in an encounter between the Army and Shi’ite members in Zaria, Kaduna state over access to the city’s PZ-Samaru Road.

Daily Trust report continues:

Although there were conflicting statements emanating from the Army and Shi’ite, Daily Trust gathered that the events that culminated to yesterday’s incident has been building up since weeks back. The spokesperson of the Army, Colonel Uthman Sani Kukasheka, who was in Zaria with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, for the Passing Out Parade (POP) of Depot Nigeria Army recruits said his boss narrowly escaped assassination after an ambush at the PZ-Samaru Road that is also known as Sokoto Road.

“On our way to the Depot (Nigeria Army) from the emir’s palace (Alhaji Shehu Idris, emir of Zazzau), where the COAS went to pay his respect, some people attempted to assassinate him. We would not allow what happened to go unpunished. We are going to take all legal actions to bring the culprits to book,” Kukasheka said.

On the casualty he said; “we would compile the details and get back to you. Not now.”

In its official statement last night, the army said, “The Shiite Sect on the orders of their leader, Ibrahim Alzak-zaky today afternoon in Zaria attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff while on his way to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau and attend the Passing Out Parade of 73 Regular Recruits Intake of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria.

“The sect numbering hundreds carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres. They refused all entreaties to disperse and then started firing and pelting the convoy with dangerous objects. The barricade was obviously a deliberate attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff and members of his entourage while on a legitimate official assignment as Special Guest of Honour at the Passing Out Parade which has earlier been widely publicized.

“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. 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.

“We wish to implore all Nigerians to continue to be law abiding and remain conscious of other people’s right to life, freedom of movement and passage. The Chief of Army escaped unhurt and continued with his duties.”

Also speaking on the incident at the Passing Out Parade (POP), General Buratai apologized to officers and men, as well as invited guests, for coming late to the POP, saying that the assassination incident was the cause.

However, on his part, the spokesperson of the Shi’ite, Ibrahim Usman, when contacted on phone by our correspondent said the members of the group blocked the road in order to secure their centre, Hussainiyya, and other faithful that were trooping to the centre for annual Maulud (celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s, pbuh, birthday).

“Brothers took that action because of what happened to our members in Gabari (a village in Zaria). Three of our members were killed on Friday and another one was killed last week, bringing the number to four. I was shocked to hear the Army’s spokesperson on BBC saying that there was an attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff,” Usman said.
He explained that the group was gathering details to ascertain the number of people killed in yesterday’s incident.

He added; “I can’t enter Hussainiyya now because the soldiers have taken over the place. However, from what I gathered, the soldiers have taken the corpses of some of the brothers they killed. We don’t know how many corpses they have taken, but inside the Hussainiyya, I learnt that there were five corpses and 13 injured persons. We would issue a statement later.”
Our correspondent reports that tension has been building in Zaria from Thursday through to Friday over the ownership of Juma’at (Friday) mosque at Gabari village of the ancient city.

Daily Trust gathered that there was dispute on which sect should take charge of the Juma’at mosque between the Shi’ite and Dariqa and this started few weeks ago. This dispute led to clash between the Shi’ite and some residents of Gabari, which led to the death of nine people, according to some accounts of residents.

Investigation revealed that the Shi’ite blocked the PZ-Samaru Road at the Karaduwa Motor Park axis, as well as the Nigeria Railway Corporation Hospital axis of the road. By this, the road, which is the major link between Zaria and other major cities of Northern Nigeria, became inaccessible from about 12 noon of yesterday.

“At about 2pm, we were sitting in PZ when we saw an Army’s armoured tank and military men in Hilux vans. I saw the Army officer leading the team discussing with the youths that blocked the Karaduwa axis of the Sokoto Road, perhaps, trying to persuade them to open the road.

But the youths were brandishing clubs chanting Allahu Akbar (Allah is great). The next thing I heard were gunshots and we all took to our heels for fear of the unknown.

“When the gunshots stopped, we came out from hiding and we learnt that the soldiers have taken over Hussainiyya and the road was then opened for motorists. This is all I witnessed,” an eyewitness, Muhammad Ahmad, told Daily Trust.

Following the incident, business activities was brought to standstill as traders in PZ and Tudun Wada, Zaria markets locked their shops and headed home.

As at yesterday night, soldiers were stationed at different locations in Zaria. Cars were thoroughly searched while those riding motorcycles were made to disembark before passing the Army’s checkpoints.

Pedestrians were made to raise up their hands before allowed to pass.

A statement by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the spokesman of Kaduna governor last night called for calm. It said, “Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai had appealed for calm and peace. The governor has spoken on phone with Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky and later proceeded to Zaria to see things for himself. He later met with Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Butatai in Depot Nigerian Army Zaria immediately after the Passing Out Parade ceremony. The situation is calm and security has been beefed up in Zaria.

Shiites: Nigerian Soldiers Kill 12, Besiege Islamic Movement

Associated Press reports that soldiers besieging the home of the leader of a Shiite movement accused of trying to assassinate Nigeria's army chief have shot and killed at least 12 people, the Islamic group said early Sunday.

About 30 people have been wounded in the ongoing attack that began late Saturday in the city of Zaria in northern Nigeria and continued into early Sunday, Zeenah Ibrahim, the wife of the group's leader, told The Associated Press in a phone call interrupted by the sounds of gunfire.

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman said the Shiites on Saturday afternoon attacked the convoy of Gen. Tukur Buratai.

"The sect numbering hundreds, carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tires," Usman said in a statement. "They refused all entreaties to disperse and then started firing and pelting the convoy with dangerous objects ... in a deliberate attempt to assassinate" the army chief.

Spokesman Nasir Umar Tsafe of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria said seven people died there, including four wounded whom he said soldiers refused to allow through a barricade to get medical care.

Later Saturday, Ibrahim said, soldiers surrounded her home in a "pre-planned attack to assassinate the sheikh," Ibraheem Zakzaky.

His movement two weeks ago suffered a suicide bombing, claimed by Boko Haram extremists, in the middle of a procession that killed 22 people.

Boko Haram often attacks Muslims who preach against its radical vision of Islam. The group emerged as a violent Islamic uprising after Nigerian armed forces in 2009 attacked its headquarters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, killed about 700 people and arrested and then killed its leader.

Six years later, the Boko Haram insurgency has killed some 20,000 people and forced 2.3 million from their homes.
Ibrahim emphasized that her husband's Shiite movement is peaceful and opposed to Boko Haram's violence.