The Bloodbath in Zaria

The Nigerian Army (NA) parades bright records spanning decades, arising from its valiant peace keeping roles across the world. From the Congo, to Lebanon, Chad, Liberia and Sierra Leone and recently in Sudan and Mali, the NA has distinguished itself as a catalyst for global peace. Nigerian soldiers have earned United Nations medals “not only […]

The Nigerian Army (NA) parades bright records spanning decades, arising from its valiant peace keeping roles across the world. From the Congo, to Lebanon, Chad, Liberia and Sierra Leone and recently in Sudan and Mali, the NA has distinguished itself as a catalyst for global peace. Nigerian soldiers have earned United Nations medals “not only for their service….but as recognition by all peace-loving nations of the world for efforts in maintaining peace.”
All of this admiration was put in jeopardy in Zaria on Saturday, 12th December, 2015 when soldiers caved in to provocation by Shi’ites zealots and turned their guns on civilians. The bloodbath in Zaria was triggered by the refusal of the Shi’ites to lift the blockade of the road the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Tukur Yusuf Burutai, was billed to pass for the performance of a military assignment. All attempts to mollify the Shi’ites failed and the soldiers had to clear the road by force to enable their chief pass. Earlier reports said the COAS had escaped assassination in the hands of the Shi’ites.
The Shi’ites are a highly organised, intensely ideological and pretty stubborn group of people with a serious sense of solidarity and this is so whether they are in Lebanon, Iran or Nigeria. For a long time, they have been considered a nuisance by their neighbours and those who frequently ply the Abuja-Kano dual carriageway must have had one nasty encounter or the other with them. They are fond of demonstrations and processions and they do this with relish to mark the many dates on their religious calendars.  During these processions, they intimidate others and block roads and this often brings them in conflict with other citizens. Zaria appears to be their headquarters and also the home of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, their political and spiritual leader. 
Over the years, the people of Zaria have come to tolerate them. Shi’ites are very knowledgeable and abreast of global affairs. Owing to the long standing animosity between United States of America and Israel and Iran, the home of Shi’ism, Shi’ites almost everywhere have aversion for those two countries. The Shi’ites have a lifetime disagreement with the Sunnis and other Muslim sects based on their alleged repudiation of the revered Caliphs Abu Bakr, Omar and Uthman, the successors to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). 
The Shi’ites insistence on the pre-eminence of Caliph Ali ibn Talib over his predecessors antagonises other Muslims. Their permissive sexual orientation afforded by Mut’ah, a temporary marriage arranged strictly between willing partners, is also a bitter source of dissimilarity with the Sunnis.
From Odi to Zaki Biam and Baga and for the second time, Zaria, the NA has come across as a bloodthirsty group bent on quelling civil disturbances for which it is unsuitable. So, when Lt General Burutai and his men made their way through a Shi’ite blockade on that Saturday, they were stepping on to a minefield. After failing to persuade the Shi’ite crowd to allow the COAS to pass, the soldiers lost their temper and shot live bullets killing scores of people. 
They didn’t stop there; they proceeded to the home of Sheikh El-Zakzaky in anger and bizarrely shot his wife, sons and Sheikh Mahmud Turi Muhammadu, among others. The soldiers also went to Baqiyyatullah Husseiniyya and killed others. Even the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital owned up to the fact that 61 dead bodies were deposited in their mortuary.
Now the NA has been left with a messy damage control effort. The NA took El-Zakzaky into a “protective custody” but when the delegation of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs demanded to see him, they said he was no longer in their custody. The picture of El-Zakzaky in blood and totally humbled, is bound to evoke the resentment of his followers.  It is alleged that the Shi’ite leader suffered gunshot wounds. After the bloodletting, the NA also announced that it had called in the Police, to do what? The NA wouldn’t say how many persons it killed in Zaria, but branded the number mentioned in the media as exaggerated.
Meanwhile, the NA has lodged a complaint at National Human Rights Commission against El-Zakzaky.  Whose rights have been violated, is it someone sitting down in his cosy office or a bloodied person whose whereabouts are unknown. The NA says it has handed El-Zakzaky to an unknown agency for prosecution, for which offence?
Here is what we need to do: we should treat everyone as a citizen whether he has stars or tumours on his shoulders. A Nigerian is a citizen whether he wears khaki or “leda.” It is not our business to deny the humanity or citizenship of others because of their religious beliefs or mode of worship. Why were El-Zakzaky’s sons being targeted and eliminated by the NA? Let this matter be thoroughly investigated and whoever is found guilty objectively punished. 
Let this be the last time the NA will violate the rights of citizens to life. What the NA had in Zaria was a misadventure, inimical to their reputation. The NA applied excessive force and observed no rule of engagement. This is not a military matter; it is citizens’ matter. With a fight against Boko Haram, an eye on “Biafra”, the NA can’t afford another enemy front in the North West.
If you hand me 61 dead dogs, I will not know what to do with them, what more of 61 dead Shi’ites?
Twitter: @ComradeAbubakar