Zaria Clash: Army Studying Judicial Panel Report

Senator Iroegbu

The Nigerian Army has said its studying the report by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government to investigate the December 12-14, 2015 clash between the NigerianArmy and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiite sect.

The report, which was made public on Monday, indicted the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, for alleged acts of lawlessness by his members and calledfortheprosecution of soldiers involved in the killings of the sect members.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, told THISDAY yesterday that the NigerianArmyisawareandexamining the contents of the report.

Usman said the army will not issue out any official response yet as the authorities are still studying the report.

“The Nigerian Army is aware of the report and is studying it,” he said.

The 13-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, had in its report submitted to Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, said El-Zakzaky and his members should be held responsible for the bloody clash with the Nigerian Army last December, which led to the deaths of 349 people, including one soldier.

The report also accused the Nigerian Army of “disproportionate use of force contrary to its rules of engagement”, declaring that soldiers and officers of the NigerianArmy who were involved in the killing of 348 members of the Shiite sect should be prosecuted.”

“The panel’s findings contained in the report said 349 people – including one soldier – were killed. “Out of the said 349 dead persons, 347 (excluding the soldier) were buried in a mass grave,” said the report.