NHRC set up panel to investigate Nigeria Army and Shiite clash in Zaria

Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai. “On December 14, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff presented a petition to the National Human Rights Commission on allega­tions of attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff and attack on his convoy on his way to Zaria, which eventually led to a vicious clash between the Mili­tary and some members of the Shiite Sect in Zaria, leading to the loss of sev­eral lives and property.

“Pursuant to the re­ceipt of this complaint from the Military, the commission, in line with its mandate to receive complaints on human rights violations, to moni­tor and to investigate such allegations, with a view to making appropriate determination in the cir­cumstances, decided to constitute an investiga­tion panel with a view to carrying out a holistic investigation into the al­leged violations of human rights.’’

The panel is expected to make recommendations to the commission on how to forestall a recur­rence.

He stated that the pan­el will investigate to de­termine violations of hu­man rights on any of the parties during the clash, recommend remedies and restitution, if neces­sary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-man panel has Mr Tony Ojukwu as its Chairman, and Kabiru Elayo as Secretary. Other members of the committee include Mr. Abdulrahman Yakubu; Halilu Adamu and Ba­bangida Labaran.Responding on behalf of the panel, Ojukwu promised that it will do its best to justify the con­fidence reposed in it.The panel has two months within which to submit its report.

The clash between the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff and members of the Shi’ite Islamic sect led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky on December 13 along the Kaduna-Zaria road left a number of people dead.

Source: NAN