Following the recent Shiite crisis sparked by a clash in Zaria, Kaduna State between members of the sect and the entourage of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai, governors of the 19 northern states have held an emergency meeting in Kaduna with a resolve to avert what they called ‘another Boko Haram insurgency’. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports.
Though the meeting presided over by the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima was careful not to compare the Shi’ite sect with Boko Haram, it said the crisis if not properly handled can lead to a similar insurgency.
Present at the emergency meeting were Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (Zamfara), Idris Wada (Kogi), Alh Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina) and Shettima (Borno), among others.
Briefing reporters before the meeting went into a closed-door session, the forum urged caution by the Federal Government agencies in their handling of the Shi’ite crisis, in which no fewer than 30 persons have been killed and leader of the movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim Yakubu El-Zakzaky has been arrested.
While noting that a similar incident gave rise to the Boko Haram insurgency, governors warned that the crisis was not in Nigeria’s best interest and a repeat must not be allowed. “We don’t want the same mistake that happened over the Boko Haram crisis to repeat itself,” they said.
Before 2009, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (Boko Haram) was just a group of Islamic adherents who were in Maiduguri, the ancients headquarters of the Kanuri Empire, preaching, re-branding Islamic knowledge to followers and new converts. During the period, the group was seen as harmless to the society, even as it enjoyed a fraternity with the state government that led to the appointment of the father in-law of the sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf, Malam Abdullahi Fugo into the Cabinet of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s administration.
The friendship later became sour and that led to the arrest of Mohammed Yusuf by the military, who subsequently handed him over to the police. Yusuf was later died in a mysterious circumstance while in the police custody. The development caused quite some stir among his followers.
This reportedly led to the gunning down of some members of the sect by security agents. and their corpses were moved for along Maiduguri-Bauchi Road. This attracted mammoth crowd, who came out to pay their last respects to the slain members. Alas! The security agents were said to be waiting for them at Bauchi junction and suddenly opened fire on the crowd, killing unspecified number of the sect members and at the same time went away with the corpses.
The development, according to observers, forced the group to go underground and this gave birth to the present ‘Boko Haram’ insurgency, ravaging Nigeria and some neighbouring countries.
A similar scenario is about to play out in the ancient Zaria city, if not properly handled. Last year, members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ite came out in their thousands to mark the annual ‘Quds’ Day. The day which was declared 35 years ago by the late former Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini to show solidarity with the Palestinians over Israeli occupation of Jerusalem.
Available information revealed that the day is marked annually throughout the Muslim world, especially in countries with a significant Shi’ite population. Events are also held in Iraq, the Palestinian Gaza Strip, and Syria. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine endorsed the Quds Day and hold ceremonies to mark the day. Outside, of the Middle East and the wider Arab World, Quds Day protests have taken place in the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Sweden, France, the United States, and some predominantly Muslim countries in East Asia.
The celebration of the day had also always gone smoothly in Nigeria, with the police providing security cover to avoid any breakdown of law and order. The protesters carry and burn flags of America and other countries they regard as supporters of Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem and the continued Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
However, the 2014’s procession which started from the headquarters of the Shite movement in Zaria plied through major streets. When the group approached the popular PZ Roundabout in, the crowd which was busy shouting death to Israel, death to America and free Palestinians never envisaged any disaster.
Just as the procession got to PZ Roundabout, a military convoy, reported to be conveying the Commander of Field of Engineering, Nigerian Army, Basawa came face to face with the protesters. Report has it that his guards moved to clear the way for their superior, asking the group to move to one side of the road. When the leaders of the movement tried to explain to the guards to see reason and exercise patience, hell was let loose as sound of gunshots rented the air and in the end, nine persons, including one of the sons of the group leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky lost their lives.
The peaceful procession however resulted in pandemonium and commotion, as the protesters and residents scampered for safety. It was also reported that another group of soldiers later followed the group to their headquarters at Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah the following morning and after count, 22 persons were confirmed dead.
Giving account of the 2014‘s inccident, El-Zakzaky said, the military targeted his sons. He said: “There is nothing like Boko Haram killing people; we cannot be fooled. Those in authority are the sole authors of the atrocities. There is nothing like a religious group taking up arms against Nigeria as they are trying to make us believe”.
Similarly, tension descended on Zaria, on Saturday December 12, 2015, as another bloody clash ensued between the soldiers on on entourage of the Chief of Army Staff and the Shi’ite sect members, leaving no fewer than 10 people dead.
“Shi’ites attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff in Zaria”, was the way Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman broke the news in a tweet under his official Twitter handle, @HQNigerianArmy which was also posted on the Nigerian Army website that fateful night.
He later issued a formal statement, saying: “The Shiite Sect on the orders of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky today (December 12) 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 army spokesman said: “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 had earlier been widely publicised.
“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.”
Eyewitnesses and video later released by the Army authority equally confirmed that, the sect members rejected Army officers plea to allow their Chief passage before it later resulted to the use of force.
The troops later moved to El-Zakzaky’s residence in Gyallesu area of Zaria midnight of the incident and whisked the sect leader away the next morning. The sect alleged that, about a thousand of their members including El-Zakzaky’s wife, son, second in command and their spokesman were killed in the process.
However, the Army in a joint press conference with the police said El-Zakzaky and his wife were in protective custody and would be allowed to address his followers at a later time.
The group had since then protested both on the streets on Kaduna and Zaria, as well as in the media, pressing for the release of their leader.
It was against this background that the Northern governors stated that, since the issue has to do with an Islamic group that has membership across the 19 States in the North and beyond, they must ensure that the incident does not provide room for anyone or group to perpetuate violence in any of the 19 northern states.
According to Governor Shetima: “We already have the serious problems of Boko Haram to contend with. We are not in any way comparing the Islamic Movement with Boko Haram, no. But we don’t want the same mistake that happened over the Boko Haram crisis to repeat itself.
Even though the Governors seemed to have made up their minds as Governor, El-Rufai rose from forum’s meeting to say that, El-Zakzaky would be prosecuted over the recent clash between his members and men of Nigerian Army that left some persons dead in Zaria.
El-Rufai said, all the parties that were involved in the incident will be weighed by the constitution and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly. He added that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government would examine the remote and immediate causes of Zaria incident.
Similarly, their communique at the end meeting read that, Nigerians should respect the law and constituted authority, and directed that every organization, religious or social must operate within the confines of the law.
“When Boko Haram went wild in July 2009 with clashes between them and the police in Bauchi on 25th and 26th in Maiduguri, most Nigerians saw the issues as the problems of Bauchi and Borno. When they continued to attack Borno and Yobe, it became the affairs of Borno and Yobe States. All of a sudden, there was suicide attack in Abuja in 2012 and then everything went out of control and we are where we are today.
“So, like I said, we do not make any comparison between the murderously violent Boko Haram insurgents and the Islamic Movement but we are here to analyze and ensure that we take measures that will close any avenue which some people may want to seize to create violence in the immediate or long run.”
The Northern Governors said that while they had no doubt about the capability and competence of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai to take necessary measures to address the incident, their intervention in the matter stemmed from the relevance accorded to Kaduna in the whole North.
“Let me make one thing very clear: the Northern Governors’ Forum is not here to do the job of the Kaduna State Government or because there is anything missing in the measures taken by the Kaduna State Government,” Shettima said.
“We are very confident in the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai. His competence and character have never come under any doubt.
“Soon after the Zaria crisis, the Governor was at the scene and he spoke with leader of the Islamic Movement and met the Chief of Army Staff. He addressed the people of Kaduna State on December 17, 2015 and the Government took some firm far reaching measures it considers necessary.
“Malam El-Rufai is the man on ground, he knows the subject matter more than us and he knows the steps he deems most suitable after his extensive consultations. So, we are not here to do his job.
“Moreover, Kaduna is the socio-political heart of northern Nigeria. Kaduna is to us, what Lagos is to the South West. What affects Kaduna State invariably affects the whole north. If you notice, we make it a duty to travel to Kaduna to hold our meeting instead of holding it in Abuja. Kaduna is the headquarters of the northern Nigeria but it will have that significance if we accord it the relevance it deserves. We have a duty to preserve history and our values by coming here.
“While here, we will be briefed on the Zaria incident and we will compare thoughts analytically and extensively. We will also be looking any other matter that affects the well being of the north and we shall brief the media on issues that we don’t consider too security sensitive to make public.” He said.
The communique read in part, “the Governors frowned at arbitrary blockage of highways through unauthorized processions causing inconveniences to other citizens. Henceforth, processions must necessarily be with Police permit and protection as prescribed by the law.
“NSGF endorsed all the step taken so far by the Kaduna State Governor to contain the situation and assure citizens of its readiness to maintain law and order while respecting the constitutional rights of citizens to practice their faith in a manner devoid of infringing the rights of others.
“NSGF reaffirmed their commitment to take measures to revive and grow the economies of Northern States to create jobs and other opportunities as efforts already in top gear to revive agriculture and industries related to agriculture.” The Governors resolved.
But if truly the Northern governments are determined to block the road to ‘another Boko Haram’, immediate release of the Shi’ite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is pertinent. This is not to say that, he should not be prosecuted, but to send relief to the spines of his members.
Already, photographs of wounded El-Zakzaky has gone viral on the social media. Critical minds might say, the images were photo-shopped, an average Shi’ite member beliefs that is real state of their national leader.
Before his release, El-Zakzaky should be made to address his followers as promised by the Army, to at least call for calm.
ENDS
