The Nigerian Army has said that a public inquiry would be conducted into the clash between a detachment of the Nigerian Army in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the followers of a prominent Islamic cleric, El Zak Zaky in Zara, Kaduna State on Saturday.
Three people were killed with over 20 injured in the confrontation between followers of El Zaky Zaky believed to members of the Shiite Sect and soldiers which lasted over one hour.
The soldiers in the convoy of the Army Chief had a clash with the members of the sect when they barricaded the road while the Army Chief was on his way to attend the passing out ceremony of the 73 Regular Recruitment of the Nigerian Army, at the Nigerian Army Deport, Zaria.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relatyions, Col. Sani Usman, who described the incident as unfortunate in a statement on Sunday said that the activities of the sect would no longer be allowed to cause hardship to members of the public using the road.
He stressed that while it was the right of the group to hold a peaceful procession, it was also the right of the members of the public to use the road without molestation.
He said, “Yesterday’s incident resulting in 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.
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.”
Meanwhile, military sources have said that soldiers involved in a raid of the Mosque belonging to ElZaky Zaky have arrested the cleric and were interrogating him as of the time of filing this report.
It was gathered that the soldiers also recovered several arms and ammunition from the area during the raid.
It was further gathered that the military was still conducting a cordon and search operation in the area as of the time of filing this report.
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