THE Chief Medical Director, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching
hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State, Prof. Lawal Khalid, has said that its
mortuary has received 61 dead bodies resulting from the deadly clashes between
members of Muslim sect, Shiite and the Nigerian Army.
Lawal, confirmed this on Tuesday, even as soldiers
barricaded the road leading to Zaria, apparently to fish out members of the
Shi’ia sect which have been having a confrontation with the military since
Saturday. The soldiers mounted check points at Dogarawa village, near
Zaria. They are thoroughly screening motorists entering the city.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has set up a panel to probe the clash.
The panel, headed by a director at the commission, Tony Ojukwu, was
set up following a petition by the Army alleging that members of the
sect attempted to assassinate Tukur Buratai, its chief of staff, along
Sokoto road in Zaria, Kaduna state, last Saturday.
According to the Army, members of the sect on the orders of their
leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, attacked the convoy of Buratai, who was on
his way to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau and to attend the passing
out parade of some new recruits in the state.
“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,” Sani
Usman, spokesman of the army, had said in a statement.
“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.”
But the sect denied making an attempt on the life of the chief of
army staff, alleging that the army shot its unarmed members killing
scores of them.
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