Permit me to start this piece by boring you a bit with a background history of the Shiite movement.
According to Dr. Abdussamad Umar Jibia an Associate Professor and Head of Department of Mechatronics Engineering Bayero University Kano- "Shia was embraced by Persians because they saw it as an opportunity to distort a religion that destroyed their kingdom and culture. After the Iranian revolution which was led by Shiite scholars, the government of Iran set an agenda to spread Shia to other countries. In Nigeria, this task was to be carried out by one Ibrahim Yakub Elzakzaky. The man Elzakzaky devised several strategies to achieve his mission. First, he banked on the gullibility of some Muslim youth who could easily be misled by slogans like 'Islamic revolution', 'establishment of Islamic state', 'total change', etc. His group, who initially tagged themselves as Muslim brothers (meaning, of course, that other Muslims are not their brothers) organized lectures and several demonstrations in their first phase.
Way back in the 1990s, the Shiites constituted a major threat to the public in Kaduna state.
For a period, any Islamic preacher who dared to criticize Ibrahim Elzakzaky or Ayatullahi Khomaini in his preaching was attacked and beaten in his house in the presence of his wife and children. Infuriated by their actions, the Government of Col. Hameed Ali staged a clampdown on them and most of their leaders were arrested and prosecuted. This made them to change their strategy for a while.
The main activities of Shiites are demonstrations which they organize on specific occasions like the Quds and Ashura days. During these demonstrations, they block main roads in cities across the North and intimidate the public including the Police whose permission they do not seek. Last year, this type of event led to a clash between the Army and the sect members leading to the death of several people including three children of Mallam Ibrahim Elzakzaky. In addition, these heretics organize an annual pilgrimage to Zaria for which they trek in large groups from certain points to go and meet their leader. In the process of this long trek, they block major highways and create a lot of havoc for travelers. This is watched by the security agents and nothing is done to stop it. Like the Boko Haram of Muhammadu Yusuf, the Shiites have no regard for any rule, no matter how harmless it is"
The Shiite temple is located in the heart of business nerve centre of the ancient city of Zaria, the site is strategic, whoever is coming in or going outer Zaria city, Sabon Gari via PZ to Kwangila, Kano state, College of Aviation, Palladan, Samaru, Ahmad Bello Univercity, ABUTH, Shikka and Katsina State must ply the Federal road called Funtua road. The El-ZakZakky mosque is on the Funtua road beside the great Polo gulf course in Zaria.
Before the relocation of the Shiite temple to the Funtua road, there was a social guest house owned by the British America Tobacco Company, they were forced to close down by the sect. On several occasions, motorist and pedestrians were forced to either go back and take the long route via the GRA or wait endlessly until their prayer sessions. A story was told of an ambulance which was on an emergency trip to ABUTH, it was forcefully delayed by the Shiite traffic militias for an hour. This resulted in the death of a law abiding citizen of Nigeria.
Several leaders have in time past experienced the aganonies birth from the unauthorized blockage of road by the El-Zakzakky lead Shiite in Zaria. Ex Speaker, Tambuwal, Former governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, to mention but a few.
The sect militias sees that part of the country as their legal territory that no other persons irrespective of rank or file in the country can pass through the said road while they are in processions. It wasn't surprising though when the nation's COAS was asked to go back, since in time past they have successfully actualized their might, they thought General Buratai will do same as others.
According to on the spot witnesses, General Buratai was on his way to the Chindit Barracks for POP ceremony and to pay a courtesy visit to the Emir. He was stopped by the sect traffic militias and was asked to turn around and go through the GRA axis. Some of the officers on the convoy of the COAS highlighted and prayed the already agitated youths to kindly allow their
boss make a pass. The begging and pleadings didn't move the Shiite members who had increased in numbers, they openly displayed their matchets and sticks provoking the COAS aides.
The car carrying the COAS was said to have made a u-turn and a few minutes later the officers pleading on behalf of the general opened fire on the resilient youths who has at that point made advances towards the military personnel. Several question ran through my mind when I was investigating the incidence:
* what if the Shiite youths had over powered our military men and retrieved their arms, wouldn't this have encouraged the scattered Boko Haram sect to try re-enforce and do same?
* Will the nation be able to put hope in our army?
* The COAS is a symbolic figure of Nigeria's might and strength
* What legal right do the sect have to block a federal road?
Residence of the ancient city of Zaria have lost hope in law enforcing agency to come and rescue them from the daily fear they go through by the presence of the sect in both Gyellesu (Residence area of El-ZakZakky ) and PZ ( temple site). Their 90s brutalities is still fresh in the heart of residents of Zaria. The sight of the Shiite militias during their early morning workouts is frightening and shows our security porosity. People wonder why the government will allow a religious sect to possess military like followers, the only difference between the sect militias and Nigeria army is the public holding of guns.
In conclusion, I will suggest that the Federal Government releases the Shiite leader as soon as possible. However, they should be relocated to a
more open region at the outskirt of the city but open to public view and security scrutiny. Taking them to hidden area is detrimental to security
checks.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Okanlawon Tijjani
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