Last week, security operatives, comprising policemen and soldiers, had fierce battle with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) known as Shiites in Abuja. The renewed clash reportedly claimed lives of five members of IMN although the Nigerian Army said only three were killed while four soldiers that sustained various degrees of injury were treated at a military facility.
Apart from those killed, as well as those that sustained injuries, a patrol vehicle of the police was reported to have been set ablaze by the irate protesters who vowed that they would not stop their daily protests until the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government releases their embattled leader, 65-year-old Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who has been in detention since 2015.
The Army said its troops had to confront the protesters “having overpowered the police, injured four soldiers and in massive numbers, threw bottle canisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic”. According to FCT Police Commissioner, Bala Ciroma, some of those arrested were allegedly in possession of 31 bottles of petrol bomb and other dangerous weapons to be used to cause mayhem in Abuja.
It is unfortunate that continued detention of El-Zakzaky by the present administration that claims to have respect for rule of law, despite several courts of competent jurisdiction had earlier ordered that he be released, is major cause of unending violent clashes between Shiites and security operatives. The situation has assumed worrisome dimension now that the protesters are trooping into FCT in large numbers to express displeasure over continued detention of their leader.
This has serious security implication on safety of lives and property in FCT which is the capital of Nigeria. This saddening development should be of great concern to those in authority as it not only shows that Shiites could overrun FCT but the protracted menace if not checked, is portraying the country in bad light before the global community.
We implore government to obey court orders that El-Zakzaky be released to allow the wheels of justice run its full course. His continued detention without trial by this government would aggravate grievances of his ardent followers thereby emboldening them to continuously engage in destruction of lives and property. The recurring clashes between Shiites and security operatives must stop especially in view of the wanton destruction of lives and property, as well as disturbance of public peace.
The menace is festering because none of the perpetrators has been severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others. Since April 2018, none of the 115 suspects arrested has been charged to court after vandalising a number of buildings and vehicles during violent clashes between sect members and security operatives in Abuja in which 22 policemen and others, were severely injured. El-Zakzaky was arrested and detained without any charge in September 1996 by regime of late General Sani Abacha.
After his death, the sect leader was charged to court in August 1998 for treason but was released in 1998. However, clashes between his followers and security operatives persisted. Consequently, El-Zakzaky in a bloody clash between his sect and security operatives on July 25, 2014, reportedly lost three of his sons, as well as one of his eyes. In the Kaduna violent clash in December 2015, he lost three children during which 347 other lives perished.
This led to proscription of Shiites group by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai-led government. Another bloody clash in Kano between the group and security personnel claimed a number of lives while hundreds sustained injuries. It is disheartening that for 40 years, El-Zakzaky’s group has been having bloody clashes with security operatives but unfortunately, successive administrations could not end the menace that has claimed a number of lives.
This was how the deadly Boko Haram insurgency started when their leader was killed under controversial circumstance. While still battling to end Boko Haram, government cannot afford to let lingering violent clashes between Shiites and security operatives fester in view of the security implications. Government should humbly hearken to calls from well-meaning individuals and organisations for release of El-Zakzaky, his wife and others from detention.
They should be charged to court to face the full wrath of the law since Nigeria, at present, is guided by democratic and not military laws. Henceforth, Shiites should while protesting, conduct themselves in such a way as not to disturb public peace. Also, it is not in their interest to brazenly confront security operatives trained and armed to kill criminals.
However, no matter the level of provocation, security operatives should conduct themselves responsibly by refraining from using live ammunition while dealing with harmless protesters on peaceful mission.
Finally, the 135 Shiites arrested by the police should be arraigned in court which ordinarily, is expected to be the last hope of the common man.
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