Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and his government over killing in Zaria, Kaduna state.
According to Nigerian state newspapers Over 20 people (some local sources estimated about 300 people) are reported to have died in the clash, which commenced on December 12 and spread till the next day.
Sheik Muhammad Turi, the second-in-command to Zakzaky, and the group’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Usman, were reportedly killed by soldiers on Sunday.
President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs expressed shock and sadness over the ongoing outbreak of deadly violence involving the Nigerian army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
Abubakar in a statement, signed by secretary-general of the NSCIA, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, said at a time Nigeria is facing serious problems, the least expected is a conflict between the military and Shiites.
The statement reads in part: “While there are claims and counter-claims on what actually precipitated the latest heart-rending incident, the NSCIA urges the authorities to exercise restraint.
“We urge the Federal Government to immediately constitute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to thoroughly unravel the immediate and remote causes of the current mayhem. Besides, the Commission should also investigate the past incidents involving the Movement so that justice can be done.
“The sanctity of human life is inviolable in Islam and painstaking efforts should be made at all times to prevent bloodshed. In other words, life is sacred and the fundamental responsibility of Government is to guarantee the security of life and property.
“While no group should be allowed to constitute law unto itself or arrogate unconstitutional powers to itself under any guise, the fact still remains that the position of law is clear when there is any breach. Therefore, as order is the first law of heaven, normalcy and restraint should be taken seriously.
“May the Almighty Allah guide our leaders right and guard us Nigerians against our own indiscretion at all times.”
On 12 Dec. Nigerian soldiers attacked and killed the son of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria according to members of the movement.
“Leading members of the Islamic Movement and other members as well, have been martyred by the soldiers including the leader of the Kano Center, Sheikh Muhammad Turi, Dr. Mustapha Sa’eed, Malam Ibrahim Usman and Sister Jummai Gilima. Also killed was Sayyid Aliy, the son of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), the wife of the Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), Malama Zeenat Ibraheem and tens of other members as more are being killed as at the time of this release,” the group said in a press statement signed by Ibrahim Musa, head of the media forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
The group said in its statement that the Nigerian Army “brutally descended on armless members of the Movement with heavy military weapons killing indiscriminately” following the alleged blockade of the route of the chief if army staff.
The group further said that soldiers fired shots at the residence of the leader of the Movement at Gyallesu, the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA and the Darur Rahma located along Zaria-Jos road “where many armless people were killed.”
“The killing was so brutal at Gyallesu that even those injured in the shooting were identified and killed in cold blood by the soldiers. And as at the time of writing this press release, the victims run into their hundreds, if not thousands.
It’s not the first time army attack the the Islamic Movement.
A similar face-off last year led to the death of many members, including the 3 sons of the movement’s leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky.