JAMATU NASRIL ISLAM (JNI) Cautions Military Against Excessive Use Of Force

The Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) led by the
Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, has
cautioned the military against the excessive
use of force against unarmed members of
the public in order to avoid colossal loss of
lives and property.
This is in reaction to the bloody clash
between members of the Islamic Movement
of Nigeria and soldiers that left scores of
people dead in Zaria, Kaduna State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its
Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar, the
group emphasised that the clash was
avoidable if the army had applied the
internationally established convention of
rules of engagement in dealing with the
situation, rather than using excessive force
that led to loss of lives and property.
JNI called on the Federal Government to
investigate the remote and immediate cause
of the clash.
According to the group, investigating the
cause of the unfortunate incident and
apportioning blames where necessary,
would forestall a re-occurrence of such in
the future.
While describing the dispute between the
Shiites and the Nigerian Army as
unfortunate, the group noted that the
incident had created apprehension and
pandemonium in Kaduna State.
The JNI said: “After following the events as
they unfolded, we reiterate, in line with
our previous related releases that life is
sacred and must be treated as such. And,
restraint should always be exercised in the
course of discharging one’s civil, official and
or religious duties”.
“It is against this background that JNI
commiserates with the people of Zazzau
over the unfortunate incident and call on all
and sundry to take time and ponder over the
many overwhelming challenges within the
context of fairness and objectivity. We
believe that it is high time all Nigerians
come together, think together and take
positive steps towards salvaging the
quandary of insecurity in our dear country.”
“We must all view the insecurity quagmire
as a challenge to all Nigerians, regardless of
any parochial consideration. Similarly,
members of the public should always
recognize and operate within the ambit of
law and order as provided by the laws of the
land as well as our religious texts. In the
same vein, the JNI implores the media to be
wary of sensational reportage that is
capable of plunging the nation into yet
another avoidable crisis, (may Allah forbid,
Amin).
“Furthermore, JNI commends the Federal
Government for instituting a fact finding
delegation, under the leadership of the
Minister of Interior, for an on the spot
assessment, it also implores the
Government to institute an enquiry into the
Zaria upheaval, to unravel its remote and
immediate causes, so as to forestall future
occurrence,” JNI said in the statement.