Kaduna releases White Paper on Shi’ite /military clash

Thirty-six hours after a Federal High court in Abuja  directed the release of the spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Kaduna State government has released a white paper on the sect still outlawing the movement.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, on Monday, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan, noted that after deliberations on the draft White Paper by the Kaduna State Security Council, it was subjected to further review by the Kaduna State Executive Council which amended and approved the White Paper.

He said regarding the clashes in Gyallesu area of Zaria, where the Nigerian Army mounted a cordon and search operation, the White Paper observed that many civilians were evacuated from Gyallesu, but that IMN members rejected the opportunity to vacate the area.

The White Paper also acknowledged that the Nigerian Army abided by its rules of engagement and further observed that: the Judicial Commission of Inquiry failed to take into account the years during which the activities of the IMN in Gyallesu had threatened peace and security;

Aruwan also said the White paper noted that from  all intent and purpose, the IMN was an insurgent group and ought to be treated as such.

He said: “The sheer numbers of IMN members congregating in Zaria from across the country that night, with many bearing arms, was such that the Nigerian Army was in no position to accurately determine how armed and organised they were and had to be concerned on what their intention for Zaria was.

“With regards to the findings of the commission on the conduct of the Nigerian Army, the state government noted the recommendation that members of the Nigerian Army that may have been involved in the unlawful killing of 347 citizens should be brought to trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“The Kaduna State government is assured that the Federal Government will not condone unlawful killing of any citizen and that this conduct will be further investigated and any culprits identified will first be subjected to court martial by the federal authorities, followed by civil prosecution by the state government.”

He further disclosed that “The Kaduna State government accepted the following recommendations, among others:

“That IMN is an unregistered organisation that cannot be sued. Therefore, all IMN members and its leadership are jointly and severally liable for all violations of the law in the last 30 years, and are, therefore, responsible for the clashes and its consequences;

“That members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He, therefore, bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness committed by the organisation and should, therefore, be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted;

“That he evidence before the commission, from the testimonies and memoranda submitted to it by the various interest groups and stakeholders, clearly shows that IMN has become a law unto itself; disregarding the authority of the Nigerian state as vested in the police and other security agencies which many a times lead to several confrontations such as the one of December 12 to 14, 2015 between it and the Nigerian Army;

“That all  incidents of violence and aggression by members of the IMN against individuals, groups or communities, which have resulted in grievous bodily harm, destruction of properties and deaths, should be fully investigated and culprits brought to book. Where appropriate, compensations should be paid;

That the state government should investigate and repossess all illegally acquired public lands from IMN and utilise same for public Interest;

“That without any hesitance, government must demonstrate the necessary political will to proscribe the existing IMN as an unregistered and unlawful association;

“Mechanism should be put in place for the proposed bill on religious preaching to be passed into law as quickly as possible and implemented.”