Shocked at Buhari’s silence Police release 83, arraign 91
By AbdulRaheem Aodu
Kaduna
Reactions have continued to trail the wanton killing of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria(IMN), known as Shi’ites with the latest coming from the Human Rights Watch, which described the killing as brutal and unjustified.
The group which also slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for not speaking up on the tragic incident, noted that “characterizing this terrible carnage against Shiites in Zaria as ‘a military affair’ is shocking. President Buhari should ensure the military’s appalling track record of serious human rights abuses is halted and does not continue under his term in office.”
While insisting that “it was almost impossible to see how a roadblock by angry young men could justify the killings of hundreds of people,” the group described the military action as “a brutal overreaction and at worst it was a planned attack on the minority Shia group.”
Quoting an eyewitness account at the sites and a hospital source, the group further disclosed that over 300 of the group’s members, and likely many more, were killed and hundreds more injured.
“Soldiers quickly buried the bodies in mass graves without family members’ permission, making it difficult to determine an accurate death toll,” it added.
It said although some people threw stones and had sticks, there has been no credible information that any soldiers were injured or killed.
These were some of the highlights of the HRW reports by its African Director, Daniel Bekele.
While insisting “the Nigerian military’s version of events does not stack up,” Bekele wants the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the government to be sufficiently independent and impartial to hold those responsible to account.
The group said it interviewed 16 witnesses to the killings and five others, including local authorities, who said the soldiers fired on the Shi’ites at three locations in Zaria, in northern Nigeria.
“The army said its confrontation with the Shia sect members who had erected a makeshift roadblock near a mosque resulted from an assassination attempt on the army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, whose convoy was passing by. In an internal military document seen by Human Rights Watch, the army said protesters appeared to be taking up positions near the back of the convoy.”
The HRW said “under international human rights law governing the use of force during policing operations such as this, the intentional use of lethal force is only permitted when strictly unavoidable, to protect life.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna state Police Command has released 83 Shi’ites made up of 34 juveniles and 49 women arrested during the Zaria clash between the group and the soldiers.
Another 191 suspects have also been arraigned for various offences, including obstruction of highways, possession of weapons and attacking security agents.
The suspects have been remanded pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations, which may lead to charges being filed at the State High Court or the Federal High Court.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, yesterday after the State Security Council meeting, said the meeting deliberated on recent events in the state and security situations for the yuletide season.
He said: “Following briefings received from all security agencies operating in the state, the Kaduna State Security Council unanimously resolved as follows:
“That adequate security measures would be put in place across the State ahead of Maulud, Christmas and New Year festivities in the state. Citizens were advised to continue to be law abiding and report to security agencies, traditional and religious leaders and the
government any threat to peace and stability of the state.
“Residents of Gyellesu in Zaria Local Government area of the state that fled their homes following the unfortunate incident on the 12th December, 2015 are encouraged to return to their homes, as security agencies have been permanently stationed in the community to provide adequate security for citizens residing in the area.
“Citizens, whose properties or belongings were abandoned on the streets, including vehicles, motorcycles and other properties were advised to retrieve their properties upon identification and proof of ownership.
“Citizens running lawful businesses in the area were also advised to go about their normal businesses without any hindrance in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
