SCORES FEARED DEAD AS SOLDIERS AND SHIITES CLASHES IN KADUNA

The Shiite sect on the orders of their leader, Ibrahim Alzak-zaky, has attacked the convoy of Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, in Kaduna state.

Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the chief of army staff

According to the official statement, made by Colonel Sani Usman, the director of army public relations, the attack took place while Buratai was 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 in Zaria.

“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.

“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,” the statement read in part.
Usman stressed that such kind of behaviour would not be tolerated from any individual or groups and should not be allowed to repeat itself.

Speaking with Premium Times, a resident of the area, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, said that a truckload of soldiers came to the Husainiya area and surrounded it.
“All of a sudden we heard gun shots and many people died.”
“The soldiers are still there and they have evacuated some of the corpses while others were taken by the site members.”
Another witness said: “The soldiers have killed many people here, possibly up to 20. The leader of the sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is leaving his home to where the soldiers are. He is saying he does not care if he is killed too.”

See some photos below:

Photo ctedit: Sahara Reporters

Photo ctedit: Sahara Reporters

Photo ctedit: Sahara Reporters

However, the Shiites stated that the army spokesman was lying.

In a statement signed by Isak K and posted on the website of the movement, the Shiits stressed that the claim that Buratai “narrowly escaped assassination as a result of attack from Muslim brothers and Sisters of the Islamic Movement is a blatant lie”.

According to the statement, members of the movement were unarmed and gathered for a ceremony at their Husainiyyah base to change the flag on the dome of the building to herald the beginning of the month of Rabiul /Auwal- the birth month of Prophet Muhammad.
“Any excuse given by the military as reason for besieging Hussainiyyah and firing for hours, leading to the death of yet to be specified number of people, is considered a lie of the decade,” the movement added.

According to Leadership, the heavy fighting between the Nigerian army and the Shiites broke out Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday after Alzak-zaky’s residence had been surrounded by the troops.
The troops were said to have faced resistance by the group members and thus failed to arrest their leader. There were reportedly casualties in the late night attack. The exact death toll is yet to be provided.
The army officials insist it was an assassination attack, while Alzak-zaky continues denying the claim and adds that the military action against them was a pre-planned one.

“They lied to have said we attacked them, nobody attacked them, they were the ones that first stormed our headquarters with truck full of soldiers, sealed off our headquarters on a day we were supposed to change our flag and started shooting and killing our people.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on December 12 travelled to Kaduna to declare open a musical festival and attend the convocation ceremony of the Kaduna State University.