History will always repeat itself most especially in climes where strict adherence to the rule of law remains a mirage. In the case of our dear nation, not only are we confronted with dearth of institutionalised frameworks for ensuring compliance with laid down regulations, instances of flagrant abuse of authorities by both the leaders and the led constitute a major bane to peace, internal coercion, growth and development. From the military down to civil rules, hardly has any administration passed without incidents of intra-security agencies clashes on one hand, and hostilities between security apparatus and civil populace on the other.
During the regime of Obasanjo alone, the nation experienced more than two incidents of conflicts between soldiers and police resulting in loss of lives and properties. The case of Fela Anikulapo family house invasion which resulted in the death of the AfroBeat's mother in the 80s is still fresh in our nation's memory. Commissions of Enquiry were set up but up till this moment, not a single culprit had been brought to book neither was any white paper issued on findings from the enquiries. Not only has this emboldened our law enforcement agencies to embark on official rascality, it has further diminished inter cordial relationship amongst security agencies and civilian-security agencies interface.

Against this backdrop, not many were taken aback when the news of the clash between the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff and the dreaded Shiite Movement broke penultimate week.

That incident would have been substantially prevented if the past ones had been dispatched with stiff and rapt attention and culprits brought to book. On the part of Elzakzzaky's Shiite Sect, it has become a case of too many disobedience to military and police authorities. The sect leader was reported to have been incarcerated at various times by previous administrations on account of civil disobedience and breaches of public peace. During the immediate past adminstration, the sect's misdemeanor resulted in the death of three sons of its leader. Unfortunately, that case was waived off as if nothing happened. There was no single prosecution or reprimand of the major actors involved in the fracas. So, when the latest Buratai-Shiite confrontation hit the airwaves, it was a chorus of déjà vu.
However, if this latest anomaly is allowed to go unresolved, the nation would have prepared itself for a Banana Republic status.

From the above preambles, we need as a matter of priorities to seek explanations on the following:

1. BURATAI'S OWN STORY OF BEEN AMBUSHED FOR ASSASSINATION.

While the story might have some iota of truth, the Army Chief should be crossed examined on the following:

a. Did he send an advance party of security surveillance to Zaria road in order to determine his safe passage?

b. Was that how he would have run into a Boko Haram ambush as result of improper intelligence gathering?

c. Can we infer that Buratai's convoy's display of naivety were the major reasons our military has not been able to clip the wings of insurgents over the years?

2. INVASION OF ELZAKZAAKY'S SHRINE AFTER THE HIGHWAY CONFRONTATION.

Reports have it that reinforcements were made by military authorities for the arrest of the Shiite's leader after the road hostility, an act that resulted in wanton killings and destruction of properties. We further seek explanations on the following:

a. Constitutionally, the function of quelling internal aggression and hostilities lies exclusively in the hands of the police. Who authorised the invasion of Elzakzaaky's abode and Shrine by soldiers?

b. Only the President and the National Assembly can sanction the deploring of soldiers on internal and internationally assignments. In this index incident, did the President and Commander In Chief give directive for the arrest of the Shiite's leader?

3. THEORIES OF CONSPIRACY AND PRE-MEDITATED KILLING.

a. From the accounts of both the Army Authorities and the Shiite Movement, no life was lost during the road block /exchange of words, on what basis was the military authority provoked into further onslaught on the sect's base and what prompted such action?

b. What was the degree of provocation and resistance that prompted the soldiers to open fire on a civil albeit restive civilian/religious congregation resulting in the death of scores of people?

While the act of civilians or religious organisations using their constitutional freedoms to impede the rights of fellow citizens is repressible and condemnable in totality, adherence to rules of engagements and nation's rule of law on the part of out law enforcement agencies is a norm that must be enshrined in our value system.

The president and the National Assembly must as a matter of priority unravel the reason for this latest Army-Civilian confrontation with the aim of bringing all culprits to justice.

The Choice we make in tackling civilian-security agencies unrests goes a long way in determining how peaceful and unified the nation can be.