Rights group cautions Army against instigating another insurgency

Executive Director of CASER, Mr Frank Tietie

An Abuja-based human rights group¸ Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), has cautioned the Nigerian Army against “unnecessary use of force” against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in the aftermath of Saturday’s deadly clash in Zaria, Kaduna State.

CASER, in a statement by its Executive Director, Mr Frank Tietie, on Monday, urged the Army to tread with caution and observe due process of law in its action against the Shi’te sect to avoid another insurgency.

The Army and members of the sect have been trading blames over the clash that left several members of the movement dead.

Spokesman of the force, Sani Usman, alleged in a statement on Saturday that the Shi’te followers attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, while on his way to the palace of the Emir of Zazzau, in an attempt to assassinate him.

But the Islamic movement has dispelled the allegation, saying that the soldiers simply decided to attack “defenceless people”.

There have also been reports of arrest of the sect leader, Ibrahim Elzakzaky, and demolition of his home by the Army authorities. The Force had not reacted to the reports as of the time of packaging this story.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has also warned the authorities against plunging the country “into another Boko Haram-like insurgency with the repeated attacks on members” of the sect.

The CASER’s statement reads in part, “It is very doubtful and unlikely that a group of worshippers would ordinarily take delight in attacking the Nigerian Army when they know the might of the Army in the deployment of force for the maintenance of order and protection of lives and property.

“It is pertinent to ask why would a group of worshippers want to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria? What carefully laid out plan did the group adopt to carry out the assassination attempt? Was it a spontaneous encounter between the worshippers and the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff in course of a religious ceremony? Is there a disproportionate report of the encounter?

“These answers to the above questions cannot come from the Nigerian Army but from an independent institution like the Nigeria Police or the National Human Rights Commission.

"Unfortunately, conclusions are already being drawn without any proper inquiry or investigation. In fact, it has been reported that the Nigerian Army has embarked on a reprisal mission to arrest the leader of the group, El Zak Zakky by surrounding his residence with troops to the provocation of his followers.

“The Nigerian authorities must learn from the mismanagement of the crisis between the then Ali Modu Sheriff led Government of Borno State and the group that was led by a young Muslim Cleric, Mohammed Yusuf.

“It was the extrajudicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf that was the precursor to the metamorphosis of a religious movement to the dreaded Boko Haram crisis that has claimed the life of an estimated 20,000 Nigerian citizens since 2009.

“Care and caution must be observed in dealing with the recently reported clash between the Nigerian Army and Shiite Muslims who have been accused of attempting to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, General Burutai in Kaduna.

“The reported siege on El ZakZakky's residence  by the Nigerian Army is hasty. There is no report that any form of investigation has commenced on the reported clash between the Army and the Shiite worshippers.

“There is also no report that the Shiite leader has been invited by the authorities and he has refused or adduced any reason for his declination of such an invitation.

“The Shiite leader on the contrary has shown marks of maturity and serious restraint when he cautioned his followers to be calm following the death of his son along with other worshippers in an earlier clash with the Nigerian Army. He is also reported to have sued for calm in the present crisis.

“CASER calls for an urgent  investigation of the claims of an assassination attempt on the person of the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria before any action should be taken against any group or persons.

“While such an investigatory process is set in motion, it would amount to an unnecessary provocation of the Shiite group by moving to arrest it's leader without prima facie grounds of his complicity in the reported assassination attempt on the Chief of Army Staff.

“The Nigerian authorities must recognise and respect the sacrosanctity of the freedom of religion, thought and conscience as guaranteed by Section 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Citizens cannot be made to be afraid for holding unto legitimate faiths however misunderstood by the authorities.

“It is important for Nigerians to know that the Shiite group is not being stereotyped for any alleged criminal acts by some other persons. Therefore, it is only in the observance of the due process of law that would ensure a clarification of the truth about the assassination attempt.

“There would be no need for any group of religious persons to resort to violence as a means of self-help when they perceive that justice is prevalently and manifestly done.”