The Nation Newspaper

Tag: convoy

  • Driver not arraigned for blocking my convoy, says Obaseki

    Edo State government has explained that Mr. Progress Raji, 27, who was arraigned at the Oredo Magistrates’ Court in Benin City, committed a major traffic offence by driving on the wrong side of the road.

    The government said Raji was not arraigned for obstructing Governor  Godwin Obaseki’s convoy.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said: “Contrary to media reports that Raji was arrested for obstructing the convoy of Governor Obaseki, he was actually apprehended for driving against traffic and the governor, who was on his way from church, witnessed the offence and ordered Raji’s arrest, as he posed a grave danger both to himself and to other road users.”

    Osagie added that during interrogation, Raji was also found to be driving without a valid driver’s licence.

    “The revamp of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) and the massive road construction and rehabilitation projects across the state, are parts of the government’s strategies to ensure that the roads are motorable and fit for safe driving. Law and order is a major policy of this administration and road users must appreciate the efforts that have been made to ensure our society is sane for decent living,” he added.

  • Hoodlums attack Lulu-Briggs’ convoy

    The Chairman of Monipulo Nigeria Limited, Chief Olu Benson LuLu-Briggs, was allegedly attacked in Rivers State, at the weekend.

    Sources said about 100 hoodlums stormed the venue of a peace and reconciliation meeting, which is to be chaired by Lulu-Briggs, destroying vehicles, including his bullet-proof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    But no one was killed.

    The incident occurred on Saturday morning at his Abonnema hometown in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.

    The sources said: “Some youths we do not know attempted to kill High Chief Lulu-Briggs when he came to Abonnema for a peace and reconciliation meeting. They destroyed cars in his convoy but he was rescued because his car is bullet proof; the hoodlums were shooting.

    “We do not know what their annoyance is, but we know they were hired.”

    They believe the incident may be connected with last week’s suspension of the Chairman, Abonnema Council of Chiefs,  Chief Gbobo Bob-Manuel, for alleged witchcraft.

    Lulu-Briggs was appointed regent/chairman, Abonnema Traditional Rulers’ Council, pending resolution of the matter.

    Lulu-Briggs was said to have visited the place for a reconciliation meeting between chiefs, opinion leaders and elders.

    The hoodlums, suspected to be hired by unknown persons, took over the venue immediately Lulu-Briggs arrived, throwing stones and brandishing weapons.

    Shortly after the incident, however, Chief Lulu-Briggs addressed the people, saying violence and killing would neither resolve the situation  nor develop the area.

    He spoke through Chief Ibim Iyibo Young-Briggs, noting that there is need to reconcile all factions.

    Lulu-Briggs lamented poor infrastructural development in the area.

    I want to call for dialogue  to resolve misunderstanding, acrimonies and grievances so that Abonnema will be restored to its characteristics acclamation of ‘York City’.”

  • Wike, Amaechi convoy clash in Port Harcourt

    Wike, Amaechi convoy clash in Port Harcourt

    •I escaped assassination – Wike

    •Governor’s security pulled guns on me – Amaechi

    IT was a horrifying scene yesterday afternoon in Port Harcourt, as policemen attached to Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, clashed.

    Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed, with the rifle taken away by the Rivers governor’s convoy.

    Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.

    But Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office in a statement yesterday said, “In a blatant show of naked raw power, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi this (yesterday) afternoon narrowly escaped being shot by security men attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.  His car wasn’t that lucky though. The car was vandalized with a broken side mirror.”

    Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

    It was exclusively gathered yesterday evening in Port Harcourt through a top security source, who would not want to be named, that the unfortunate incident heightened tension in the area, with passersby, motorists, other road users and persons in the neighbourhood scampering to safety, to avoid being hit by stray bullets in the confusion.

    The security source said: “Today, November 11, 2017 (yesterday) at 3 p.m., the Transportation Minister, who was driving from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in company with police escorts, got his convoy intercepted by the Rivers governor (Wike) at Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout by Nkpogu in Port Harcourt. The security details managed to ferry  Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to safety, after which the Rivers governor led his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and about ten mobile policemen, to attack his predecessor/benefactor’s convoy.

    “The Rivers governor and his troops physically assaulted by slapping and bruising the policemen, especially Inspector Johnson Imonikhe, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu and Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, attached to the transportation minister and the governor made away with the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, one of the policemen attached to the transportation minister.

    “The AK-47 rifle was forcibly taken away personally by Governor Wike, who was accompanied by his CSO. The policeman with blood on his face, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was hit with an iron by Wosu (Wike’s CSO), in the presence of the Rivers State governor.

    “The snatched AK-47 rifle is still in the custody of the Rivers governor’s team and the incident has been referred to State CID (SCID) for investigation.”

    When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details, asking our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not picked the calls, and he had not returned the call, as at press time.

    Nwakaudu in a statement said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

    “The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

    “Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied him on his trip.”

    He added that after the attack the governor continued with his inspection of projects, adding that Wike was not harmed.

    The minister’s media office said the incident which occurred along Trans-Amadi Road, Nwaja axis involved cars of many of Amaechi’s  supporters while the Minister’s black jeep was intercepted and blocked at the junction by the security motorcycle outrider attached to Wike after two cars had passed through.

    The statement added, “One of the two cars had security men assigned to protect the minister in Port Harcourt.  Suddenly, gun-toting security men attached to Wike’s convoy surrounded the Minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, back and side windows and broke a side mirror. All through this attack, Amaechi remained calm, inside the fortified Jeep.  While the attack occurred, Wike remained inside his vehicle.”

    It added that the minister eventually passed through after the intervention of the security team on ground to protect him in Port Harcourt. It continued, “However, when Governor Wike got to the point where the incident occurred after Amaechi’s vehicle had gone by, his security men blocked the road again, dragged out from a vehicle and thoroughly beat up a police man attached to protect Amaechi in Port Harcourt.  The Policeman’s riffle was also taken from him.”

    The Amaechi media office added that Wike came out of his car, and with his security team went from one vehicle to another of Amaechi’s supporters charging at them, harassing and abusing them. It alleged that Wike’s security men were heard loudly insulting Amaechi and calling him derogative names.

    In the meantime, Ikwerre youths have condemned what they called the attack on Amaechi and the policemen in his convoy.

    The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International from the four Rivers Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, described the attack as very unfortunate and least expected.

    Amaechi and Wike are both Ikwerre. The transportation minister hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, while the Rivers governor is an indigene of Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor council.

    IYM, through its President-General, Azubuike Nwanjoku, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency, in an online statement by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dike Bekwele, declared that Wike’s action was suicidal and detrimental to the already-charged environment being witnessed in the state and insecurity in Rivers in recent times.

     

  • Military suspects sabotage in attack on convoy

    Worried by the high casualty figures in Tuesday’s ambush of an oil exploration team, intelligence service has started probing call logs in Magumeri axis.

    It was suspected that some moles in the convoy of the NNPC team might have sold out to Boko Haram.

    The convoy comprised NNPC officials, University of Maiduguri officials, soldiers and Civilian JTF members.

    The death toll has forced the military to go back to the drawing board on how to avert a reoccurrence.

    According to PRNigeria, a military covert media outreach, the probe will determine whether there were moles in the convoy or if there was connivance by those living along the routes.

    The ongoing investigation will also ascertain if there were collaborators in some of the villages in the affected axis.

    A top security source said “The recent deadly Boko Haram attacks which left in its trail  loss of lives, property and abductions has necessitated a joint security intelligence service in examining calls and messages within the Yesu District in Magumeri axis of Borno State.

    “The development has become necessary as moles could be suspected among those in the convoy that include different interest groups to perpetuate their heinous activities.

    The source also revealed that the security services in the course of their assignment will determine whether there is connivance and collaborators by those living along the routes  since the same NNPC explorers have always travelled regularly to the exploration sites on the same route.

    “It is so baffling the shocking ambush by the terrorists when our gallant troops have always provided adequate security cover for the same convoy regularly on that same route and similar ones for months without problems!

    “There are concerns that the planned military onslaught recently announced by the Chief of Army staff(COAS) with a deadline to capture dead or alive notorious position leaders of the deadly sect may be suspended or slowed down because of the capture of some staff of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and other abductees being moved to the suspected sites.”

  • Bullion van rams into Amosun’s convoy

    Bullion van rams into Amosun’s convoy

    A bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday rammed into the convoy of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    The accident occurred near Ibafo on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Amosun was travelling to Lagos for an official assignment.

    The van damaged the escort vehicle in the governor’s convoy.

    An eyewitness alleged that the CBN convoy drove recklessly, attempting to overtake the governor’s convoy.

    He said on sensing danger, the governor’s escort commander used a public address system to warn the CBN convoy to stop reckless driving.

    “Not only was he ignored, the CBN driver hit the vehicle and went after other vehicles in the governor’s convoy, including Amosun’s official car, before he was stopped by security operatives attached to the governor.

    Amosun said: “This is lawlessness and the height of impunity.”

    He added: “If this could happen to a governor within his territory, you can imagine what they will do to our citizens who are going about their legitimate business.

    “We will not allow such senseless and reckless behaviour in Ogun State.”

  • Oshiomhole, deputy clash over gun attack on convoy

    Oshiomhole, deputy clash over gun attack on convoy

    There is tension in Edo State over  Saturday’s gun attack on the convoy of Deputy Governor Pius Odubu during a visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.

    Odubu yesterday relived the incident and called on the police to arrest the suspects he fingered in the attack. But Governor Adams Oshiomhole dismissed it all as “hasty”, saying “preliminary reports suggest that the fracas was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu Campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi, who attacked other party loyalists not sold to the deputy governor’s aspiration”.

    Besides, Etsako West party leader Abubakar Akokhia dismissed the claim that Odubu was targeted.

    He alleged that the shooting might have been carried out by those in the deputy governor’s convoy.

    He said Odubu was not under any threat at any time during the shooting.

    At a news conference addressed by a member of the Odubu Campaign Organisation , the deputy governor called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those who attacked him and members of his campaign organisation. He said he had identified “three principal suspects’’ behind the attack.

    He urged the police to immediately unearth them and their pay masters, and prosecute them for this felonious act.

    The former APC Minority Chief in the House of Representatives, Mr Samson Osagie, who spoke for the organisation, described the attack as “the height of naked display of cruelty, animosity, acrimony, intolerance, gross irresponsibility and man’s inhumanity to man’’.

    He said Odubu would not back down from pursuing his ambition to be governor, saying that “in democracy, it is only the people that have the right to choose their leaders”.

    “And for those who seek to spill blood on account of a mere party nomination exercise, the God of justice shall bring justice upon them,’’ he said.

    Osagie said eight persons including a Department of State Services (DSS) officer and a police Inspector in Odubu’s entourage were injured.

    “As we speak, six of them are currently at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital( UBTH) receiving treatment while the other two are still convalescing at a hospital in Auchi,’’ he said.

    Osagie gave the names of those injured as Patrick Amakiri, a DSS official, Inspector Agge Felix, the escort police commander attached to  Odubu, Zibiri Yakubu, Ogbeso Nice, Osabuohien Igiebor and Matthew Ajayi.

    Osagie said delegates were dispersed from receiving him at Fugar, Estako Central Local Government by an executive director to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He did not name the executive director.

    He described the attacks as another attempt to intimidate, harass and put pressure on Dr. Odubu to quit the governorship race or be eliminated.

    “We wish to notify the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the APC that they must pay proper attention to the happening in the Edo State chapter of the party as we move closer to the governorship election,” Osagie said, adding that the APC must be jealously protected for the party to retain its foothold in the South South zone.

    The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Godwin Erhahon, also at the news conference, described the attack as “madness’’.

    “What happened yesterday (Saturday) in Auchi is absolute madness.

    “I want to appeal to APC supporters to remain calm and be friendly ahead of the elections proper.’’

    Police Commissioner Chris Ezike, who visited Odubu’s campaign secretariat, said although the command was yet to make any arrest, it had names of suspects.

    Ezike, who also condemned the attack, said all aspirants must be given a level playing field to campaign, noting that the command would not tolerate any act of violence from any quarters.

    He said the command had in the last eight months been mopping up firearms from those undesirable elements and would continue to do so ahead of the governorship election on September 10.

    CP Ezike who came into the secretariat at about 9.21am, went upstairs to meet with the deputy governor and left at about 9.24am.

    On the attack on Odubu which happened in the governor’s local government, Ezike said: “I have given a marching order that those involved be arrested. This thing happened in the day time; names have been mentioned and we are going after them.

    “The actors in this game should know that power belongs to God. It is our appeal that they conduct themselves and their supporters in a lawful manner. We will get to the bottom of the incident. Luckily, a few names have been mentioned, they are not ghost.”

    The APC chair in Estako West Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Akokhia, said yesterday that the shooting  was carried out by his supporters.

    He said a warm reception was accorded Odubu, but it was the crowd outside and not party delegates that kept shouting “Odubu you don win, Odubu, na you we know”.

    Akokhia told reporters in Benin yesterday that there was no plan to kill the deputy governor in the locality.

    He said he was inside his office with Odubu when the shootings started outside.

    His words: “Before the deputy governor came, there were boys around. I asked them what they came for; they said they came to see the deputy governor and I told them they were not invited and that they were not delegates. They said they were Odubu’s supporters.”

    “There was not directive that we should not receive the deputy. Maybe it was the thugs he brought that did the shooting. When the deputy governor came, there was a crowd outside and they were shouting, “You don win, You don win”. Later, we heard them shooting.

    “Anybody that said the attack was directed at the deputy is a black liar. We were together inside my office. He was inside my office during the shooting.

    “Nobody planned to kill the deputy governor. We agreed to host him. Who is planning to kill him? He should reduce the number of his entourage. The cars that came with him were more than 20.”

  • Ondo APC aspirants trade words over attack on convoy

    Two All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Mr Segun Abraham and Senator Ajayi Boroffice are trading words over the recent clash in Akoko South West Local Government Area.

    Abraham, who last week  met party chieftains at Iwaro Oka-Akoko, was attacked and five vehicles in his convoy was damaged by suspected political thugs. Although, no life was lost but a man sustained injury and a female supporter was striped naked.

    The aspirant, however, pointed accusing finger at Boroffice, who is from that council as the brain behind the attack.

    Abraham said they started suspecting strange faces with daggers, sticks, matchets in the hall when he was addressing the party members.

    “Some of those harmful objects were seized by my security men. I am so surprised that Boroffice and his people could do these kind of things to us.

    “I have been to five local governments and there was no anyone where I was attacked. What are we talking? I gave then money but understand that they were calling him and he was given them instructions.

    “How can he be in his local government? Akoko to Akoko? APC to APC? Ondo to Ondo person? I have been to South and Central and other part in Akoko where is it that it only here we were attacked and matchet was seized from one of them”.

    Abraham said he could not be frightened by the attack and he would go ahead with his ambition, claiming he enjoys large support from the party members.

    But, the senator denied the allegation, saying it was an embarrassment to him because he was not in the state when the incident occurred.

    Boroffice said: “When it happened, I tried to find out what led to it. To me it is an embarrassment to me because as a senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Asiwaju of Akoko land I cannot mastermind attack on a fellow party man.

    “When I had about it, I asked people to investigate the man and I was informed that when Segun Abraham got to the community, he went to St. Catherine hospital in the community. He addressed the people, they were attentive and corporated with him.

    “Then, he now make announcement that he is donating N5million to the hospital. So the community boys, Okada riders and others felt that if you are given N5m to an hospital, they want there own too”.

  • Army chief: how my convoy was attacked by Shi’ites

    Army chief: how my convoy was attacked by Shi’ites

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Tukur Buratai, spoke for the first time yesterday on the December 12 bloody encounter between his men and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called the Shi’ite sect.

    He claimed the Army acted within the law.

    Buratai, who explained how his convoy was allegedly held hostage by members of the sect, said his convoy was blocked in Zaria.

    He added that his officers acted within the rules of engagement.

    The COAS spoke in Abuja at the first sitting of the investigative panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the clash and recommend to the Federal Government how to prevent a recurrence.

    He said: “The circumstances leading to the incident of December 12 have been articulated by the officers involved. I was in the convoy. It was my convoy, the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff. I left Dutse that morning, hoping to arrive Zaria in time, to attend the passing out parade of the 73 regular recruits. But the convoy was blocked when we entered Zaria.

    “What transpired has been documented by the officers with me. They have also made their statements. They are here to give full account of what transpired. We are here because we respect human rights.

    “We are here because we know the sanctity of human life, which we have sworn to protect. One of our constitutional roles is to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria, which also includes the totality of the protection of human rights and indeed, the property of every Nigerian. We have laid down our lives as army officers and soldiers over the years in the course of performing our constitutional roles.

    “There is no way we will pick our weapons and deliberatively violate the rights of the people, which we have been paid to defend and protect. This is quite fundamental. We have constitutional responsibility. Drawn from that constitutional responsibility, we also have our rules and regulations. And drawn from that we have a duty to perform in restoring peace and order where such peace and order are being disturbed. So, we followed our rules of engagement, which are derived from the laws.

    “The Army is a very respectable organisation. We are alive to our responsibilities. In doing so, we will not tolerate a situation where, individuals, in the name of human rights, continue to violate the rights of others and then turn back and accuse highly responsible organisations, such as the Army of human rights abuse.

    “I believe those organisations crying against what the military has been doing are not being sincere. They can be termed agents of anarchy. They don’t want law and order to prevail in the society.”

    Buratai assured the panel of his men’s cooperation, saying they would attend when requested and provide information to assist the panel in unearthing the cause of the clash.

    NHRC’s Executive Secretary Prof. Bem Angwe said they received 158 memoranda in relation to the clash and how to prevent a recurrence, from 13 states, while they got 156 memos from members of the sect and two from the public.

    He said the submission made by the COAS did not form part of the evidence of the Army because the panel’s investigation would be conducted in secret, assuring that the panel would be fair to all.

    After the opening event, the panel, headed by Tony Ojukwu, began sitting outside public view. It will sit till January 22, following which its members will visit the venue of the incident, hospitals, where the dead were taken and detention camps where the sect members are being kept.

     

  • Two Airforce officers arrested for locking boy in car boot

    Two Airforce officers arrested for locking boy in car boot

    Two cadets’ officers, Peters O. Solomon and Abdullahi Fahad were Wednesday apprehended by the convoy of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in Mile 12 area of the State while dehumanizing an artisan, Dahiru Lawal for allegedly breaking the windscreen of their Chrysler Stratus car with registration number KRD 267 DV.

    The cadets who claimed to be Airforce personnel attached to the Airforce Base in Ikeja, had forced Lawal into the boot of their car after dragging him on the ground for the said offence.

    Governor Ambode, who was returning from an inspection tour to Agbowa in Ikorodu, saw the situation and swiftly intervened to save Lawal who was gasping for breath.

    The Governor wondered how such inhuman treatment could be meted to a fellow citizen just for slightly breaking the windscreen of a car.

    When questioned by journalists, the cadets admitted putting Lawal in the boot of their car.

    According to them, Lawal tried to escape after breaking the windscreen and ran into the nearby market where they eventually chased and apprehended him.

    Peters said: “What happened is that the boy broke the windscreen in front of my car. When I stopped, I asked him to come, the boy ran away. We have to drag him back and put him in the boot.

    “I kind of threatened his boss that he is working with and when his boss came and looked at what he did to me, that was when I put him inside the boot for the remaining ones to go and call the boss. Not that I locked the boot, I only put him inside, but I did not lock it,” he said.

    Also Abdullahi said himself and Peter were along Mile 12 after visiting a friend when the Lawal damaged their windscreen and he was attempting to escape.

    “We now ran inside the market and dragged him (Lawal) down. I was even asking who he is working with because I want to see his Oga since I know he cannot repair my damaged windscreen. I want to see the man he is working with so that we can settle everything with him. I now told my colleague that we should hand him over to Airforce police at the Airforce Base,” Abdullahi said.

    While narrating his ordeal in the hands of the cadets, Lawal who hails from Kaduna State, said he mistakenly damaged the windscreen with the load he carried, and that he took to his heels because he was afraid of what they might do to him.

    He said: “I ran into the market and they pursued me and caught me inside the market. They started beating me and dragged me to their car.”

    “I ran because I was afraid of what the cadets might do to me, while my boss and people around begged on my behalf, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.”

    “The police also came to plead with them to open the booth but they insisted on taking me away and it was at that point that the convoy of the Governor arrived to rescue me from the booth of the car where they kept me,” Lawal narrated.

    He added that he lost his cell phone and the sum of N5, 000 which he was having on him at the point that he was being dragged on the floor.

    The Governor had since ordered that the suspects be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

     

  • Army petitions NHRC over attack on COAS’ convoy by sect

    Army petitions NHRC over attack on COAS’ convoy by sect

    •Justifies killing of seven people 

    The Nigerian Army yesterday took its case to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over its claim that the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was attacked in Zaria, Kaduna State at the weekend by members of the Shiite sect.

    In a petition deposited at the NHRC’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday on behalf of the COAS by Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, the Army said members of the sect, who barricaded the road, had threatened the COAS before his security aides “took the necessary action” to prevent an untoward occurrence.

    The Army, in a report of what happened titled: “Occurrence report,” signed by Brig.-Gen. A. T. Hamman, attached to the petition, said only seven people died and about 10 were wounded in the attack.

    The petition reads: “Despite the troops firing warning shots, the El-Zazaki’s group continued attempting to forge towards the troops. The troops immediately responded in line with the rules of engagement as the life of the VIP (COAS) was seriously threatened.

    “Troops had to shoot their way through up to the Zaria Post Office area by PZ to provide a safe corridor for the COAS and the convoy to pass through before the arrival of the reinforcement from depot of the Nigeria Army. The COAS then proceeded to the Emir’s palace for the courtesy visit before moving to Depot, NA to review the 73 RRI passing out parade.

    “Sequel to the above, about seven of the members of the group were shot dead and the COAS directed that the 10 wounded be evacuated to the Depot, NA Medial Centre for treatment while all exhibit items such as swords, knives, cell phones be recovered from the scene,” the report said.

    “On noticing the high profile convoy, they quickly used heavy stones, logs, tyres and bonfires to block the road. All entreaties to pacify and administration of warning to the sect fell on deaf ears. On the contrary, they became more emboldened and demanded martyrdom with gun shots and pelting of the convoy with whatever was available to them.

    “This left immediate security personnel of the Chief of Army Staff with no choice than to take the necessary actions in line with Nigerian Army rules of engagements to clear the attack and extricate the entire convoy.

    “The sect demonstrated absolute defiance to reason, law and order before launching the attack. The COAS has instituted an investigation into the incident. Furthermore, the Shiite Muslims have been contacted nationwide to let them know that the Nigerian Army is not against them, but was forced to respond to the brutal attack by misguided elements among them.”

    Responding, the NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, who received the petition, assured the Army that his commission will act on it.

    He commended the military for realising that the country was in a democracy and that every institution must act in accordance with the law.

    Angwe said his agency will investigate the petition and others to be submitted to it by the affected parties in the case before coming up with its report.

    He said his NHRC has urged the Federal Government to investigate the incident.