Letter to Mr. President

Sir, I am sure you received a briefing from your National Security Adviser on the recent incident in Zaria, where armed soldiers laid a siege on the residence of the leader of Shi’ite movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, allegedly killed hundreds of people, demolished his house and bombed the group’s worship centre. I believe you […]

Sir, I am sure you received a briefing from your National Security Adviser on the recent incident in Zaria, where armed soldiers laid a siege on the residence of the leader of Shi’ite movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, allegedly killed hundreds of people, demolished his house and bombed the group’s worship centre.
I believe you were told that the Shi’ite adherents’ refused the convoy of Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai passage through the area.
Speaking with a friend working at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Shika, he told me 172 bodies, including women and children, were registered in that hospital alone.
I doubt if Nigerian troops have killed 172 Boko Haram insurgents, in the last six months.
Sir, the magnitude of the Zaria crackdown tells one that such operation could not be executed without the express order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Sir, I am surprised that as a person who repeatedly condemned killings of civilians, particularly in the North-east, such atrocities are happening under your watch without you uttering a word.
A few years ago you criticised your predecessor and cautioned the military on rules of engagement and violation of citizens’ rights.
Sir, when you were hosted to that popular radio programme: “Bakonmu Na Mako” on Liberty Radio on June 2, you reechoed your standpoint on human rights violation and rules of engagement.
You advocated justice to even those who took firearms and explosives against the state.
We have seen pictures of the Shi’ites bearing cudgels, slingshots and machetes, but we have not seen one picture showing them bearing a gun, even a dane gun.
My fear is the after-effect of violent repression that led to the death of prominent members of the Shi’ite group and demolition of their house and shrine.
I agree that the excesses of Shi’ite members are becoming out of hand, but I disagree that such bloody crackdown by your government is the solution.
You to criticised your predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, for his failure to act over the abduction of over 200 school girls.
I shook my head in disbelief that you are silent, days after at least 200 people were massacred in Zaria.
Usman Mohammed Chenche Lapai,  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger Stat. Phone: 07060815443. Email: [email protected]