Nigerian army, Shiites clash

The Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria said soldiers on Monday carried away about 200 bodies from around the home of leader Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was badly wounded in the attack, and demanded that the bodies be returned for the speedy burial required by Islamic tradition, according to group spokesman Ibrahim Musa.

Contrary to several reports that Sheik Zakzaky was arrested on Sunday in a military crackdown, the religious leader had quietly hidden in the underground facility as soldiers battled with his followers in his residence and other locations owned by members of the sect.

Addressing a late evening press conference yesterday, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division of Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade said the order given to the troops was to ensure that the sect leader was taken into a safe custody and as at 09:15am he was brought into the custody the Army with his wife and some family members.

His supporters, who have denied attacking the military, said that among the dead were Mr Zakzaky’s wife and two of his sons.

He said: “You want to know how I escaped?”

The Nigerian army says leader of the Shiite group, El-Zakzaky and his wife is alive and are in their custody as opposed to speculations that they have been killed.

In the petition signed by Col. F.U Mijinyawa, the Army accused the sect members of planning a petrol bomb attack on Buratai’s convoy.

He said both the military and the Shiites suffered casualties and that the dead are still being counted. The military said that Zakzaky’s followers had tried to assassinate the Nigerian chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, and had barricaded roads being used by Buratai’s motorcade. Boko Haram often attacks Muslims who preach against its radical vision of Islam.

“In the meantime, leading members of the Islamic Movement and other members as well, have been killed by the soldiers including the leader of the Kano Center, Sheikh Muhammad Turi, Dr. Mustapha Sa’eed, Malam Ibrahim Usman and Sister Jummai Gilima”.

Northern Nigeria is majority Muslim and largely Sunni.

“At a time Nigeria is facing serious challenges, the least expected is a confrontation between the Nigerian army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria”, the group said in a statement.

In 2009, Nigerian armed forces attacked Boko Haram’s headquarters and killed about 700 people, including its leader.

“Therefore, with all pointers at the government as the contractor of the killings, we hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians and the worldwide community to intervene and seek redress for the victims and their family members as many innocent people have unjustifiably been killed and many others severely injured”.