Stop breaching public peace, buhari tells religious leaders

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned
religious bodies across Nigeria to refrain
from activities that are capable of breaching
p He advised them to always respect
constituted authorities and extant laws
when conducting their activities.
President Buhari gave the warning on
Tuesday through the Minister of Interior,
General Abdularahman Danbazzau, when he
visited Zaria in Kaduna State to assess the
impact of the violent clash between the
Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic
Movement of Nigeria last Saturday.
The President, who was accompanied
during the visit by the Inspector General of
Police, Solomon Arase and Commandant
General of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps, warned that the Federal
Government, under his leadership, would
not condone any action of lawlessness and
total disregard to the rule of law by any
religious organisation or individual.
Breach Of Public Peace
Following the unfortunate incident, soldiers
reportedly demolished the Hussainiyya
Shrine of the sect located around the PZ
area and the residence of their spiritual
leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, at
Gulleysu also in Zaria.
The Minister and his entourage, who were
taken round the area by top army officials,
are expected to make their findings known
to the President.
The Minister expressed disappointment
over what he called continued show of
disrespect for the law and breach of public
peace by members of some groups in
Nigeria and cautioned them to desist from
such act.
The clash has paralysed economic activities
in the ancient city, as banks, markets and
schools still remained close in fear there
could be further clashes.
Residents of the area are still indoors as the
entire area is still cordoned off by heavily
armed soldiers.
‘Most Unfortunate’
The sect members and the Nigerian Army
have continued to trade blames, as to who
instigated the clash.
While the army alleged that the members of
the sect attempted to assassinate the Chief
of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the
sect denied the allegation.
The group claimed that the military killed
500 of their members in the incident that
the Army described as ‘most unfortunate‘.
On Tuesday, news of a renewed protest by
the sect members in some parts of the
state capital to protest the killing of the
members and detention of their leader in
army custody, sparked tension, as traders,
banks, schools had to close as early as
eleven in the morning.
However, security was beefed up within the
metropolis, as heavily armed security
operatives were seen patrolling all over the
place.
The National Human Rights Commission
has set up a Special Investigations Panel
into the clash after it received complaints
received from the Nigerian Army and
concerned citizens. ublic peace and order.
He advised them to always respect
constituted authorities and extant laws
when conducting their activities.
President Buhari gave the warning on
Tuesday through the Minister of Interior,
General Abdularahman Danbazzau, when he
visited Zaria in Kaduna State to assess the
impact of the violent clash between the
Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic
Movement of Nigeria last Saturday.
The President, who was accompanied
during the visit by the Inspector General of
Police, Solomon Arase and Commandant
General of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps, warned that the Federal
Government, under his leadership, would
not condone any action of lawlessness and
total disregard to the rule of law by any
religious organisation or individual.
Breach Of Public Peace
Following the unfortunate incident, soldiers
reportedly demolished the Hussainiyya
Shrine of the sect located around the PZ
area and the residence of their spiritual
leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, at
Gulleysu also in Zaria.
The Minister and his entourage, who were
taken round the area by top army officials,
are expected to make their findings known
to the President.
The Minister expressed disappointment
over what he called continued show of
disrespect for the law and breach of public
peace by members of some groups in
Nigeria and cautioned them to desist from
such act.
The clash has paralysed economic activities
in the ancient city, as banks, markets and
schools still remained close in fear there
could be further clashes.
Residents of the area are still indoors as the
entire area is still cordoned off by heavily
armed soldiers.
‘Most Unfortunate’
The sect members and the Nigerian Army
have continued to trade blames, as to who
instigated the clash.
While the army alleged that the members of
the sect attempted to assassinate the Chief
of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the
sect denied the allegation.
The group claimed that the military killed
500 of their members in the incident that
the Army described as ‘most unfortunate‘.
On Tuesday, news of a renewed protest by
the sect members in some parts of the
state capital to protest the killing of the
members and detention of their leader in
army custody, sparked tension, as traders,
banks, schools had to close as early as
eleven in the morning.
However, security was beefed up within the
metropolis, as heavily armed security
operatives were seen patrolling all over the
place.
The National Human Rights Commission
has set up a Special Investigations Panel
into the clash after it received complaints
received from the Nigerian Army and
concerned citizens.