Tension in Kaduna, Kano over Arrest of Sheikh Elzakzaky

 Spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky


• Elzakzaky’s son, others killed • Army reads the riot act

By John Shiklam in Kaduna, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja  

There is palpable tension in Kaduna and Kano following the alleged arrest on Sunday by the Nigerian Army of the spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky, whose members were alleged to have attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria on Saturday.

Although the Nigerian Army refused to speak on record on Sunday, THISDAY, however gathered that in the process of arresting the sect leader, dozens of people, including his son, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenat Ibraheem, were allegedly killed.

Elzakzaky's Gyellesu residence and the Hussainiyya Headquarters of the sect, located along Sokoto Road, Zaria, were also said to have been demolished by the army.

As fears mounted that the sect’s members might react in the populous cities of Kaduna and Kano, the Nigerian Army yesterday warned the religious movement and any other groups, to desist from disruption of peace, law and order in any part of the country.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, who expressed regret at the loss of lives during the clash on Saturday between soldiers and members of the sect.

However, the Islamic sect in a statement signed by the President of its Media Forum, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, yesterday, listed the leading members of the Islamic sect allegedly killed by soldiers to include the leader of the Kano Centre, Sheikh Muhammad Turi; spokesman of the sect, Mallam Ibrahim Usman; and two leading members of the sect, Sister Jummai Gilima and Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky.

The army had on Saturday accused the Islamic sect of attempting to assassinate Nigeria’s COAS, who was in Zaria for the passing out parade of the Nigerian Army Depot.

The army chief was said to have been heading to the emir's palace for a courtesy call when the sect members, who were said to be performing one of their religious rites, allegedly blocked the road and started stoning the convoy of the army chief.

But the late spokesman of the sect, Usman, who was killed on Sunday by soldiers, had in an interview with THISDAY on Saturday dismissed the allegations that the sect attempted to assassinate the army chief.

According to him, "We told them (soldiers) that we were having a programme; but they insisted on bulldozing their way and then they started shooting. The chief of army staff was not even there. It was just his boys; they shot and killed some people and took them away and blocked the road. They are just giving a dog a bad name to hang it."

The armed soldiers were said to have invaded the headquarters of the sect as well as the residence of their leader, following the incident and allegedly crackdown on members of the sect throughout the night till yesterday.

Residents of the area, who spoke with THISDAY, said heavy shootings and sounds of explosions were heard in the Gyellesu residence of Zazzaky and Hussainiyya headquarters of the sect throughout the night.
Armoured tanks were said to have been used in demolishing the Hussainiyya shrine and the residence of the leader of the sect.

The exact figure of those killed could not be ascertained as at the time of filling this report, but witnesses said many people were killed while several others were injured.

According to the statement from the sect, "Sporadic killings took place at three different locations that include the residence of the revered leader of the Movement at Gyallesu, the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA and the Darur Rahma located along Zaria-Jos road where many (unarmed) people were killed."

The statement reads further: "Following alleged blockade of the route of the Chief of Army Staff by the members of the Movement, the Nigerian Army brutally descended on armless members of the Movement with heavy military weapons killing indiscriminately.

"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.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has advised the religious movement and other groups to desist from disruption of peace, law and order in any part of the country.

Saying the nation’s constitution guarantees lawful protests and procession, as long as it does not impinge on the rights of others, the army asked everyone to maintain the peace.

"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,’’ the Army’s spokesman stated.

He 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."

The Army spokesman further stated that "as soon as order is restored to the situation in Zaria City and its environs, the Police would conduct an enquiry and the public will be informed."

Culled from Thisday