The Nigerian Senate and their counterparts in
the House of Representatives have invited the Chief of Army Staff,
Major-General Tukur Buratai over the recent clash involving the Nigerian Army and the Shiites sect in Kaduna state which claimed many lives.
According to The Punch, also to be invited are the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawan Daura, and “heads of other security agencies.”
Extending the invitation is the National Assembly Joint Committee on Army/National Security/Intelligence and Public Safety.
Also invited by the legislators are top leaders of the Islamic Movement, as well as other stakeholders as the legislators may deem fit to discuss the issue.
A National Assembly official said: ”The Chief of Army Staff will have to come and testify before the committee as an important stakeholder. The committee has the mandate of the House to invite him.
”The DG, as well as the DSS too, is relevant to this investigation. It will involve heads of other security agencies since the committee will be looking at the security implications or otherwise of the clash.
”The leaders of the Islamic Movement will also have to come and state their side of the matter before the committee can reach any reasonable conclusions.”
An official statement by Colonel Sani Usman, the army spokesperson, revealed that prior to the bloodbath in Zaria, a convoy containing Buratai was attacked by the Shiite sect on the orders of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.
The attack allegedly took place while Buratai was on his way to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau and attend the passing out parade of 73 regular recruits at a depot of the Nigerian army in Zaria.
A similar face-off last year reportedly resulted in the death of many members, including the sons of the movement’s leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky.
Nigerian army chief Tukur Buratai
Extending the invitation is the National Assembly Joint Committee on Army/National Security/Intelligence and Public Safety.
Also invited by the legislators are top leaders of the Islamic Movement, as well as other stakeholders as the legislators may deem fit to discuss the issue.
A National Assembly official said: ”The Chief of Army Staff will have to come and testify before the committee as an important stakeholder. The committee has the mandate of the House to invite him.
”The DG, as well as the DSS too, is relevant to this investigation. It will involve heads of other security agencies since the committee will be looking at the security implications or otherwise of the clash.
”The leaders of the Islamic Movement will also have to come and state their side of the matter before the committee can reach any reasonable conclusions.”
Last week, the
Senate set up an ad hoc committee on the issue to be headed by the
chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe
North). The committee was given four weeks to report back to the Senate.
Recall that the Nigerian army and members of the Shiite Muslim sect,
in Zaria, Kaduna state, were involved in a disputed incident which led
to the killing of scores of the sect’s members on Saturday, December 12.An official statement by Colonel Sani Usman, the army spokesperson, revealed that prior to the bloodbath in Zaria, a convoy containing Buratai was attacked by the Shiite sect on the orders of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.
The attack allegedly took place while Buratai was on his way to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau and attend the passing out parade of 73 regular recruits at a depot of the Nigerian army in Zaria.
A similar face-off last year reportedly resulted in the death of many members, including the sons of the movement’s leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky.
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