Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has sent a
powerful message to the Nigerian army and the Shiites
who have been in the news recently over incessant
disagreements.
In a statewide broadcast on Thursday, December 17, the governor
promised to investigate the recent killings and explained incidents that
preceded the unfortunate occurrences.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has issued a stern warning to Shiites over
recent clashes with the Nigerian army.
Check out the message here:
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 reports 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.
Source https://www.naij.com/670865-gov-el-rufai-condemns-needless-killings-issues-stern-warning-shiites.html

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But I thought he visited dem few days ago?? In Fela's voice, " when trouble sleeps inyanga go wake am wetin e dey find?




I foresee that so called giant of Africa splited before 2019

Alert me when it hits fp

I for say but ifo they sango

"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."


No one is above the law. Nobody is stopping the Shiite from carrying out their religious activities. They need to understand that in a sovereign state, there are laws to be followed.