Started earlier that, he shouldn't/can't be silence
on this and he's done the needful at last. The
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir ElRufai addressed
a state broadcast on the Army/Shiite group
clash on Saturday December 12th that left 60
people dead. He listed the areas in which his
government feels the Muslim group had erred
over time. It's an interesting read, his full text of
the address below...
Dear People of Kaduna State,
We have witnessed sad events in Zaria and a
part of Kaduna metropolis over the last few
days. As your Governor, it is my duty to address
you on the incidents, and explain the events that
preceded the tragedy of last weekend. We shall
also outline how we intend to prevent a
recurrence.
As you are aware, Military operations have taken
place in Zaria between Saturday, 12 December
and Monday, 14 December 2015. There have
been tragic consequences and needless loss of
lives and we extend our condolences to the
families that have been affected. In this sombre
moment, we have also directed that steps be
taken to address the humanitarian fallouts of
the operations.
The State Government is carrying out after
action review of the theatre of operations with a
view to compensating those whose vehicles, real
property and other assets were damaged as a
result.The Kaduna State Government has been
informed that on Saturday, 12 December 2015,
the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
General Tukur Buratai, reported an ambush and
attempted assassination at a roadblock mounted
by members of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky's
Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
Clashes broke out as Soldiers mounted
operations to repel the attack, remove the
obstruction to a major public highway and to
contain and arrest the perpetrators. When the
security agencies sent reports of the clash to me
a little after 3pm on that day, I initiated steps
that I thought could calm the situation. I called
Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky on the phone to get
his side of the story and thereafter visited Zaria
for on-the-spot briefing and assessment and
visited the Chief of Army Staff.
The Army and the Police have since addressed
the press on the security operations and the
aftermath. We have also seen video clips aired
on national television and online to show the
extent to which the Nigerian Army tried to
reason with the persons that were intent on
obstructing a public highway without any
justification.
The avoidable weekend tragedy in Zaria has a
background based on information available to
the Kaduna State Government. What the Kaduna
State Government has learnt Based on report
from government organs and security agencies,
we have learnt the following:
• There had been tension in parts of Zaria since
Thursday, 10 December 2015, when members of
the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were alleged to
have attacked Gabari, a community on the
outskirts of Zaria, in continuation of a dispute
over a mosque. Like the previous attack, this
second assault on Gabari also took three lives.
The alleged bone of contention was that the El-
Zakzaky movement wanted to take over a
mosque they did not build in Gabari. The
mosque had been sealed by the authorities
following the collapse of the arrangements that
had enabled various sects to amicably share its
usage.
• In the last two weeks, the Islamic Movement
of Nigeria has also illegally occupied federal
roads. Over a period of four days, they took over
one side of the federal expressway between
Kaduna and Zaria, and the roads to Kano and
Katsina. They entered schools along these
routes, using them as rest and recreation points
without notice or permission or any concern
about the disruption of academic activities.
• The Husainiyah building, the headquarters of
the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, was put up
without statutory title to the land, and in
outright defiance of a stop-work notice issued by
KASUPDA in 2010. When KASUPDA followed up
with a demolition notice in the same year, the
then authorities chose to look the other way,
and allowed the sect to complete a building that
had neither title nor planning approval, and
which the appropriate agency had determined
was in violation of planning and development
regulations.
• The successful completion of this illegal
building on a major road subsequently led to a
pattern of inconveniences being inflicted on
members of the general public. There were
various reports and complaints that the sect
was harassing members of the public, and
inflicting hardship on commuters. At their
headquarters and in other areas where
Zakzaky's movement had structures, they had
tried to forcibly acquire the property of their
neighbours; this is apart from subjecting
residents to an illegal curfew.
• Government also received reports that the
Islamic Movement of Nigeria acted like a parallel
state, with total disdain for the formal structures
of the Nigerian government and little regard for
the rights of non-members. Whenever
community, traditional or political leaders invite
the sect to dispute resolution meetings, they
often declined the invitations. In addition,
members of the movement are alleged to openly
carry and use offensive weapons.
• Following the Zaria incident, Shiite members of
the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have tried to
upset the peace in parts of Kaduna. The security
forces have responded firmly to the situation in
the Tudun Wada area of Kaduna Metropolis.
Violent actions by sect members on Tuesday, 15
December 2016, included the use of Molotov
cocktails and petrol bombs against the security
forces.
Judicial Commission of Inquiry to be
established. As the security operations in Zaria
are wound-down, the Kaduna State Government
is persuaded that it is vital, for reasons of
accountability and transparency, that a factual
and authoritative account of the events be
painstakingly assembled. The Kaduna State
Government has therefore decided that under the
powers conferred on me by the Tribunals of
Inquiry Act, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry
will be established to examine the remote and
immediate causes of the Zaria incident.
This inquiry will be open and will enable all
allegations and claims to be tested with judicial
rigour. The government will act promptly on the
conclusions of the inquiry, and forward
recommendations requiring action by the Federal
Government to Mr. President. Details of the
composition and terms of reference of the
judicial commission of inquiry would be made
public within the next two weeks.
Commitment to security and constitutional
rights. In the meantime, Government reiterates
that it cannot permit an escalation of
lawlessness. Therefore, civil security patrols,
supported by the military when necessary, will
continue to enable the state to maintain order,
reassure residents and keep the peace. Our
government continues to invest heavily in
security as a foundation for the successful
execution of our economic and social agenda to
develop Kaduna State.
Fellow citizens, Kaduna State has witnessed too
many upheavals in its recent history. These
tragedies have taken too many lives, maimed
people, destroyed communities and hurt
development. We all should jointly say no to
actions that divide people, reject conduct that
ignores or violates the legal and constitutional
rights of others and oppose practices that
contest the prerogatives of state institutions to
safeguard and protect every citizen.
Everyone has a fundamental right to their faiths
and beliefs, but no one has any right to practise
their faith in ways that diminish, distress or
inconvenience others. And no one can be
allowed to justify unlawful and anti-social
behaviour on the grounds of religion. Only
conduct that conforms to the Constitution and
the laws of the country is valid, and it is the
duty of the state to vigorously enforce that. No
responsible leader or institution should teach
their followers differently.
Henceforth, no person or group, under any guise
will be allowed to block any road, obstruct
public highways, occupy public facilities or
inconvenience citizens in Kaduna State. Anybody
that needs to march may do so, but they cannot
take over public facilities or disrupt social
services and commercial activities in Kaduna
State, and any march or procession can be
undertaken only with the prior knowledge of, and
protection of the police to prevent the
breakdown of law and order.
The Government wishes to assure every resident
of Kaduna State that it is committed to
fostering harmony, maintaining law and order
and keeping the peace. Our Constitution rightly
protects the freedom of worship, as well as the
right to liberty, security and the pursuit of
happiness. Everyone is entitled to these rights
equally.
We swore to uphold the Constitution, and our
commitment to these values is unwavering. We
will similarly protect these rights evenly.
We urge all citizens to be vigilant as they go
about their normal activities, and to report any
suspicions or concerns to the appropriate
authorities. Let us all redouble our commitment
to sustaining the peace, and to uphold each
other in our God-given humanity.
While the crisis raged, the Kaduna State
Government visited Zaria, and issued appeals for
calm and peace. We have taken our time to
make this formal broadcast due to the
imperative to gather as much information as
possible amidst the welter of conflicting claims,
the urgency of restoring peace and the need to
consult with the federal authorities.
God bless Kaduna State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
May the souls of the departed find peace
May the Almighty God Restore and Preserve
Peace throughout our state and country, Amen
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