Shiites Reject El-Rufai's Judicial Panel

Shiites Reject El-Rufai's Judicial Panel   
John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shiites, on Saturday blasted the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for allegedly making indicting pronouncements against the sect following recent conflicts between the sect members and the Nigerian army in Zaria.

They declared that they have no confidence in the judicial panel of inquiry to be set up by the state government to investigate the incident which led to the killing of many people and the arrest of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

El-Rufai had in a radio and television broadcast to the people of the state on Thursday to douse tension arising from the clash which sparked protests by the sect members in Kaduna, announced the setting up of a panel to investigate the clash; just as the government imposed a ban on processions on public highways and other public places.

The governor said in the broadcast that the Kaduna State Government had learnt through reports from government organs and security agencies that
there had been tension in parts of Zaria since Thursday, December 10, 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.

The governor had stated: “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.”