Kaduna State Government has declared
Nigeria’s biggest Shiite group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), an
insurgent group, saying its activities threatened peace and security.
In a white paper released yesterday
on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) into the clashes
between the Nigeria Army and IMN in Zaria, the government said the commission
failed to consider many observations included in the memos submitted to it by
individuals and groups.
The white paper is coming one year
after the clash in which 347 persons were killed.
The JCI had in its report blamed the
Army, the federal and Kaduna State governments as well as the IMN for the clash
and the high number of casualties.
Briefing newsmen on the white paper,
media aide to the Kaduna State governor, Samuel Aruwan, said “All IMN members
and its leadership are jointly and severally liable for all violations of the
law in the last 30 years, and are therefore responsible for the clashes and its
consequences.”
The white paper, Aruwan said, also
noted that members of the IMN owed absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem
El-Zakzaky. “ He therefore bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness
committed by the organisation and should therefore be held responsible, fully
investigated and prosecuted,” he said.
The state government said the
commission did not consider the years during which the activities of the IMN in
Gyallesu had threatened peace and security.
“The White Paper also acknowledged
that …for all intent and purpose, the IMN is an insurgent group and ought to be
treated as such,” Aruwan said, adding that two other Shia groups – Al-Thaqalayn
and RasulA’azam – are active in Kaduna State, and both gave testimony to the
Judicial Commission of Inquiry, affirming that the Shia faith “can be observed
and ought to be protected within the boundaries set and permitted by the
Nigerian constitution and other laws”.
The white paper also rejected
suggestion that the burial of the victims did not conform to the law.
“Government observes that its
officials complied with the Burial Law of the State. Section 7 sub-section 1 of
the Burial Law Cap 20 Laws of Kaduna State Government 1991 requires the burial
of persons who die in this type of circumstances within 24hrs. The
Interpretation section of Rule 115 Geneva Convention also states that in
circumstances of this nature, dead bodies could be buried in a mass grave.”
Aruwan noted that the white paper
also rejected the Judicial Commission of Inquiry’s view on actions taken to
clear structures at the scenes of the clashes, saying the debris at the
Hussainiyya Baqiyatullah and at the residence of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky
were removed on the grounds of Public Health and safety.
“All the IMN buildings that were
demolished were constructed without statutory title and building permit as
required by the Land Use Act and Section 26 of the KASUPDA Law No.12 of 2015,”
he explained.
The governor’s spokesman said with
regards to the findings of the Commission on the conduct of the Nigerian Army,
the State Government noted the recommendation that members of the Nigerian Army
that may have been involved in the unlawful killing of 347 citizens should be
brought to trial before a Court of competent jurisdiction.
“The Kaduna State Government is
assured that the Federal Government will not condone unlawful killing of any
citizen and that this conduct will be further investigated and any culprits
identified will first be subjected to court martial by the federal authorities,
followed by civil prosecution by the state government,” he said.
The state government said it had
however accepted the recommendations of the commission that all incidents of
violence and aggression by the members of the IMN against individuals, groups
or communities be fully investigated and culprits brought to book and here
appropriate, compensations should be paid.
The State Government said it also
accepted that it should investigate and repossess all illegally acquired public
lands from IMN and utilize same for Public Interest.
Aruwan said the Kaduna State
Government had already acted on some of the recommendations and will now take
steps to implement the others while those recommendations that are solely
within the powers of the Federal Government have been referred for further
necessary action.
“Government has already acted to
declare the IMN an unlawful society and is prosecuting the IMN members alleged
to be involved in the killing of Corporal Dan Kaduna Yakubu. Government has
also ensured that property destroyed in the clashes have been valued to
ascertain reasonable compensation to circumstantial victims,” he added.
There was no immediate response by
the IMN yesterday, but the group did not appear before the JCI, insisting that
their leader must be released as a precondition for participation.
Source:Daily Trust
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