Army Cautions Shiites against Incitement Sect in Kano mark Maulud mourning their dead members

The Nigerian Army has warned members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, better known as the Shiite sect, to desist from making misleading statements capable of breaching public peace and order.

Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement Thursday  alleged that the planned campaign of calumny against the army was being spearheaded by one Dr. Abdullahi Danladi, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Usman claimed that last Wednesday Danladi was at the university soliciting for support and telling lies about the circumstances surrounding the two-day clash between the army and members of the sect that led to numerous deaths and the detention of its leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-ZakZaky, among others.

“He also went further to make false and unfounded allegations of casualty figures and desecration of burial grounds. It is preposterous and shows lack of concern and respect for peace and tranquility,” he said.

Usman stressed that though the army has reported the incident to the appropriate agencies, and action was being taken to address it, “it would not sit back and allow some mischievous elements in the society to further create unnecessary tension and disaffection in the society.

“This attitude will not be tolerated where people abuse their privileged position to mislead the public and create disaffection.”
The army spokesman advised Nigerians and all well-meaning persons to be patient and await the outcome of the various inquiries instituted by various government and non-governmental agencies into the clash.

“Dr. Abdullahi Danladi and like minded individuals should be warned to desist from telling lies and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading the public,” he added.

The army has come under attack following the clash between Nigerian troops and Shiite members on December 12 and 13 in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Trouble started when the sect held a procession along a highway in the city on December 12 to celebrate the month of the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

The blockade caused by the procession made it impossible for the motorcade of the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to drive through the road, leading to a heated argument between the detachment of soldiers in the army chief’s convoy and members of the sect.

Depending on who is to believed the army alleged that the sect threatened the life of the army Cheif, leading to the violent clash between soldiers and the sect that spilled over to the next day.

However, the sect has maintained that despite the argument that ensued, the army chief’s motorcade was allowed to drive past to its destination, yet Nigerian troops returned to unleash mayhem against its members who were mostly unarmed.

The sect’s version of events gained credibility last Wednesday when a damning report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that at least 300 Shiite members were killed during the crackdown and their bodies buried secretly by soldiers in a bid to cover up the atrocities committed by the military.

The incident has raised concerns with several warning that it was a throwback to the extra-judicial killing of the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf, by security forces in 2009, which led to the insurgency responsible for thousands of deaths, especially in the North-east.

Meanwhile, the fallout from the clash continued yesterday when hundreds of Shiite members in Kano defied the ban against processions and took to the streets to mourn the death of their members and celebrate Eid-el-Maulud.

The Shiites led by Mallam Sanusi Abdulkadir said it has been their practice to extend the celebratory message of Maulud Nabiy, but this year’s message was different because they were mourning the “genocidal carnage perpetrated by the Nigerian army.”

The procession witnessed a massive turnout of sect members comprising men, women and children who were mainly dressed in black.
Before commencing the procession, they gathered at Kabara and passed through the Soron Dinki, Makwarari Jakara, Kwanar Dala, da Gwammaja and Kofar Mazuma routes in the Kano metropolis.

A statement was also issued by the sect, stating that it was mourning while celebrating Maulud Nabiy.
Signed by Abdulhamid Bello on behalf of the movement, the statement said: “We are out to mourn the killings, maiming and wanton destruction of thousands of lives and property at Baqiyyatullah Husainiyya, Darur Rahma and residence of our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H).

“We want the whole world to know what the hand of tyranny has meted
on the followers of messenger of mercy (SAW) on the eve month of Maulud Nabiy.
“They maimed, detained and massacred the sons and daughters of Islam under baseless pretences using the worst oppressive and suppressive forces ever known in Nigeria.”

The sect said it wanted all  the people with a human conscience to know that the army under the President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to release the corpses of its massacred brothers and sisters, “rather has buried them in mass graves and burnt some of the corpses to hide their ugly handiwork.

“We are seriously praying and seeking divine intervention over the massacre of the Shiites by the Nigerian army,” the Kano leader of the movement, Sanusi, added.

The Shittes converged from various locations of the state to show solidarity with their detained leader, El- Zakzaky. In all, the procession was peaceful and made way for vehicles to pass.