The Nigerian Army has said it killed
seven members of Shiite sect in Zaria, Kaduna State and wounded 10 other
members of the group while repelling an attack by the group against the
convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Saturday.
The army said the shooting by the troops
accompanying the COAS’ convoy was “in line with Rules of Engagement” and aimed at saving the life of the COAS from “heavily armed” members of
the Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky-led Shiite sect.
The army’s version of the conflict was
contained in the “Occurrence Report” prepared by the Nigerian Army Corps
of Military Police and attached to a petition submitted by the office
of the COAS to the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission
in Abuja on Monday.
The December 14, 2015 petition with the
title, ‘Letter of complaint against Shiite sect attack on the Chief of
Army Staff’, and with reference number NA/COAS/G1/52 was signed by Col.
F.U Mijinyawa on behalf of the COAS.
The petition which was addressed to the
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, who received the
representative of the COAS in his office, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar , on
Monday.
“This is forwarded for your information and necessary action,” the petition stated.
The petition stated that over 500
members of the sect rushed out to barricade the road while the COAS was
on his way from Dutse to pay homage to Emir of Zazzau before proceeding
to attend the Passing Our Parade of the 73 Regular Recruit Intake.
The occurrence report with reference
number HQ NACMP/G1/300167 detailed how the Shiite group “heavily
barricaded” the road, allegedly preventing the convoy of the COAS to
pass through for a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau.
The report stated that members of the
sect were “heavily armed with dangerous weapons, ranging from long
swords, knives, daggers, sticks, iron rods to catapult” at about 2.30pm
on Saturday around the Polo/Golf Court on Sokoto Road where they mounted
the barricade in Zaria.
It added that the group defied the
soldiers’ warning shots and had allegedly started hauling dangerous
weapons towards the troops while also planning to launch a “petrol bomb”
attack against the COAS’ convoy.
The report stated, “However, troops were
wary of the group being armed with guns. Some members of the COAS
entourage disembarked to approach the armed group to talk with them to
remove the barricade to allow free passage.
“All entreaties fell on deaf ears as
they insisted that they had to contact their leader, El-Zazaki, before
the COAS would be allowed passage.
“However, as this was going on, unknown,
to the convoy, some of the members of the group had positioned
themselves at strategic locations around the vicinity. A few of the
group members had started crawling in the overgrown grasses by the
roadside towards the COAS vehicle with the intent to attack the vehicle
with petrol bomb.
“Subsequently, they suddenly resorted to
firing gunshots from the direction of the mosque and hauling dangerous
weapons towards the troops. 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 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 NA.
“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 Medical Centre for treatment while
all exhibit items such as swords, knives, cell phones are recovered from
the scene.”
The report stated that the exhibit items were handed over to the Nigeria Police.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian Army School
of Military Police Provost Admin Coy was directed to investigate along
with the Nigeria Police,” the occurrence report stated.
It added that a detailed report would be forwarded to the commission when the investigation was concluded.
In response, Angwe assured the visitors that the NHRC would conduct detailed independent investigation into the incident.
