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