December 15, 2015
The Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, says
he will set up a judicial commission of inquiry into
last weekend’s deadly clash between the Nigerian
Army and members of the Shi’ia Islamic
Movement, which left more than 60 people dead.
The army said troops used force after members
of the group barricaded a road in Zaria and
attempted to kill the chief of army, Tukur Buratai.
The exact number of casualties is still unclear,
but majority of the victims are believed to be
members of the Shi’ia sect.
Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the sect’s leader, was
arrested by the military, after his wife and son
were killed in the violence, the group said.
The killings have sparked international
condemnation, with calls for a transparent
investigation.
In a broadcast Thursday, Mr. El-Rufai announced
a ban on processions — in all parts of the state —
that could result in roads being barricaded.
He also said a judicial commission of inquiry
would be set up by the state government to look
into the incident in Zaria.
The governor said the composition and terms of
reference of the commission would be announced
within two weeks.
He assured the people of the state that the
government was committed to securing the state
and upholding the rights of every citizen.
“We have witnessed sad events in Zaria,” the
governor said. “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, the government has
directed that steps be taken to address the
humanitarian fallouts of the security operations,”
he said.
Mr. El-Rufai said, “everyone has a fundamental
right to their faiths and beliefs, but no one has
any right to practice their faith in ways that
diminish, distress or inconvenience others”.
He therefore announced that “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,” he said.
The commission of inquiry is to be set up under
the Tribunals of Inquiry Act. It will examine the
immediate and remote causes of the Zaria
incident, and assemble a factual and authoritative
account that the government can study and act
upon, he said.
The governor added that he would not tolerate
any escalation of lawlessness, insisting that “the
government continues to invest heavily in security
as a foundation for the successful execution of
our economic and social agenda to develop
Kaduna State”.
“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,” Mr. El-Rufai said.



http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/195355-zaria-killings-el-rufai-bans-shiites-others-from-blocking-roads-to-set-up-commission-of-inquiry.html

Good move.

Nig like inflicting pains on themselves.

I guess Kaduna people don't like what's is happening in YOBE, Adamawa and Bronu.

Lol

Long overdue

El Rufai talking about assassination and ambush, and then referring to the video where soldiers are seen pleading with the angry youth.i think the former claim does not hold. i did not see any ambush in that video. to "ambush" means to lay waiting to attack. there was a road block and not an ambush and clearly no assassination attempt from the parts we could see in the video released.

aside, he did not tell us why the army sent for reinforcements after the army chief had passed, and then attacked the sheikh's house and the prayer hall. that is if the road block was accidental and the youths were not reacting to the claim by the Islamic Movement that the attack on the prayer hall started even before the road block incident. El Rufai stating the prayer hall isnt legal makes one to think that the demolition was already pre-planned, and the Islamic Movement claim that the attack on the hussainiyyah (Shiite prayer hall) was before the road block could be very much true.

even if there should be demolition, why send soldiers who kill to demolish buildings when a religious occasion was taking place and many thousands of people were converging on the religious site? why didnt the police handle this? El Rufai is a trademark name for demolitions everywhere like Y'ello and MTN! and how are we to believe a building standing has been an illegal structure for many years? and did the government deny the organization permit to build that led them to put up their building in disregard of laws? the more they are telling us, the more questions we are having.

he did not mention about the fate of the dead bodies claimed today in a report to have been buried in mass graves to conceal the toll, and he did not mention about the whereabout of the sheikh and his family members. this was the same el rufai who visited Zakzaky in January in his "illegal structures". back then, when el rufai was campaigning and seeking votes and political support, he perhaps turned a blind eye that the sheikh he was visiting was using an "illegal building"!

the below are pics of el rufai in january visiting Zakzaky in the "illegal" building!

[img]http://4.bp..com/-U9yJcHK2Gwg/VnCA7SZDXlI/AAAAAAAHrcM/0vv9TqlC8Kc/s1600/0.jpg[/img]

[img]http://1.bp..com/-dAHPkGBiESw/VnCA7yR53eI/AAAAAAAHrcQ/Hxyfh4m1VYE/s1600/1.jpg[/img]

Mtchew! Those that would cause trouble will still cause trouble. I just hope that the trouble in Kaduna calms down in time. We in school (ABU Zaria) are hoping to go back home and chop Christmas with all our body parts complete!