The Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the December 12, 2015 bloody clash between Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as Shi’ite in Zaria, began hearing without representatives of the IMN.
The JCI had series of adjournment as result of the inability of counsels to the Shiites to have access to its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky said to be in the custody of Department of State Services since the December ‘s clash.
However, at the resumed sitting of the Commission on Wednesday the Nigerian Army presented four witnesses who were part of the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-Gen.Tukur Buratai on the fateful day.
They (witnesses) include, Maj-Gen. Ado Abubakar, Maj-Gen.Adeniyi Oyebade, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman and Brig-Gen. Ayuba Ted Gamma.
The judicial commission was told why it took the Nigerian Army three days before the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky could be arrested and taken into custody.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, who narrated what happened during the clash said on the fateful day of the clash, he received reports that the IMN members were gathering to launch attacks.
He explained that based on that report, he moved round the town in the evening and confirmed that the IMN members had started gathering around the Gyallesu area and where the Hussainiya was located carrying all sorts of weapons.
The GOC, under cross-examination, said casualties from the scene of the Zaria clash were more than what he witnessed in the war that ravaged Sierra-Leone and Liberia.
He said, “what we saw were very violent extremist group willing to take on the state and they did that so strongly.
“I’ve been involved in operations in Sierra Leone and Liberia but I have not seen anything as bloody as what I saw in Zaria, I have never been involved in anything as bloody as what I saw in Zaria.”
The Director of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Ado Abubakar while testifying before the commission, said based on hindsight; he has reasons to believe there was a plan to eliminate the Chief of Army Staff.
He said while others were allowed to pass, immediately it became obvious that the Army chief was about to pass, some youths blocked the roads and while his men tried to persuade them to clear the road, gunshots were heard coming from the Hussainiya.
At this point, he said soldiers had to act to save the COAS in line with army act, adding that people died as a result of fire outbreak and the stampede that resulted from trying to avoid fire.
The Acting Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Army, Brig-Gen Ayuba Ted Hamman in his own submission said it was the Shiites that first attacked the Army after blocking the roads to prevent the COAS from passing through the route.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has granted an the extension request of the Commission of Inquiry.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, said the government granted a four-week extension to the commission to conclude its job.
According to the statement, the Kaduna State Government granted the extension at the request of the chairman of the Commission of Inquiry
[Punch]
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