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LequteMan
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The Nigerian army during the weekend clashed with Shiite Muslims in Zaria, Kaduna.
The clash led to the death of over 60 people, with the leader of the sect arrested and battered.
The Nigerian army justified its actions by saying the sect was planning to assassinate Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
However, a press release from Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna state suggests the whole trouble was caused by the sect not allowing Buratai passage through its procession. The Shiite Muslims (dressed in black most times) are known for having processions- which they take seriously.
“It’s absolutely wrong for the members of the group to deny the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff the rights of passage. However, killings and arson is not the legal, civilized and proportionate response to blocking road," Senator Sani said in the statement. (read more about that here)
Speaking about the clash, Buratai said the sect were violent in their refusal to allow him passage.
He claimed that his convoy was attacked despite pleas by a detachment of soldiers for the sect members to remove the blockade they mounted on the highway.
Burutai stated that in an attempt to force their way through despite refusal of the sect members to grant them passage, the soldiers allegedly opened fire on Shiite members leading to the loss of lives.
“I think NTA was there and they aired the clip, it was very clear. They were violent. Definitely this is very clear. The clips are there. That was what happened," he said.
The clash led to the death of over 60 people, with the leader of the sect arrested and battered.
The Nigerian army justified its actions by saying the sect was planning to assassinate Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
However, a press release from Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna state suggests the whole trouble was caused by the sect not allowing Buratai passage through its procession. The Shiite Muslims (dressed in black most times) are known for having processions- which they take seriously.
“It’s absolutely wrong for the members of the group to deny the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff the rights of passage. However, killings and arson is not the legal, civilized and proportionate response to blocking road," Senator Sani said in the statement. (read more about that here)
Speaking about the clash, Buratai said the sect were violent in their refusal to allow him passage.
He claimed that his convoy was attacked despite pleas by a detachment of soldiers for the sect members to remove the blockade they mounted on the highway.
Burutai stated that in an attempt to force their way through despite refusal of the sect members to grant them passage, the soldiers allegedly opened fire on Shiite members leading to the loss of lives.
“I think NTA was there and they aired the clip, it was very clear. They were violent. Definitely this is very clear. The clips are there. That was what happened," he said.
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