Let justice prevail: Army Shi’ite clash:

 

By Sunday Onyemaechi Eze 

“JUSTICE will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” – Benjamin Franklin.

The ancient city of Zaria was recently in the news for the wrong reason. On December, 12 the city witnessed yet another unavoidable crisis in the military-civilian relationship. Defenceless citizens consisting mainly of members of the Islamic Move­ment in Nigeria otherwise known as “Dan Shi’ite” were mowed down by the vicious bullets of the Nigerian Army on account of denying the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai who some reports say was in Zaria on an official assignment, the right of passage on a public road.
Reminiscent of an epic action movie scene, the apparent lack of military fire power and tactical direction since the nation’s quest to end Boko Haram onslaught suddenly came alive and was freely unleashed on helpless civilians. As re­flected in one of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s popular rendition, they left in the wake of the destruction sorrows, tears and blood. It was ludicrous that an attempt by the Army to preserve the right and life of one man has ultimately led to the untimely and premeditated deaths of many precious lives, ac­cording to Human Right Watch.
The needless two day crackdown launched on the same defenseless group for daring the Army resulted to the senseless demolition of Hussaini­yya Baqiyyatullah, the residence of Sheik Ibra­him Zakzaky and many more unconfirmed man­slaughters. The unwarranted demolition of the Hussainiyya Baqiyyatullah and Zakzaky’s home is condemnable. Even the military knew there was no justification for such premeditated action. It was at best braggadocio and a needless show of power, might and deliberate demonstration of an­ger taken too far. The Army later issued a statement claiming that the Chief of Army Staff survived an assassination attempt by the Islamic Movement. The movement had since issued a rebuttal to that. The game of wits and war of words between the two on this matter has already split public opinion.
The Army’s angle to the story of an assassination attempt of its boss was preposterous. The statement stands the truth on its head. How could the COAS be assassinated by a group of angry people wielding only sticks, cobblers and machetes? Could it be that the intelligence around the COAS failed even before coming to Zaria only for it to spring to life on the spot of the incident? Those who understood the ru­diments of intelligence gathering could attest to the fact that if the life of the COAS was in danger that day, stringent security measures would have been taken several days before his arrival to avert any attempt on his life. The Nigerian Army in my view does not lack intelligent personnel capable of nip­ping any assassination plot against the COAS in the bud or frustrating any attack against the military in­stitution for that matter. There are numerous officers who would have been stationed at strategic places in and around Zaria several days to ward off any danger or imminent attack on the Army boss.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the Islamic movement in Nigeria has no regard for constituted authorities. In fact, Zakzaky is constantly on a col­lision course with the authorities for his intransi­gence and inciting messages. The Shi’ite symbolic Arba’een trek where major parts of roads are seized in defiance of the law and convenience of other road users is the height of Shi’ite disdain and insubordi­nation to constituted authorities. The penchant for blockage of access to public roads or restriction of free movement of people by the Shi’ite sect in whatever circumstance is unruly, uncalled for and in contravention of the law. It is condemnable also. However, this cannot be a licence for the army or anybody for that matter to send innocent citizens to their early graves. It would be recalled that there was no love lost between the Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria before and after the massacre of the three sons of Sheik Zakzaky and some Hus­sainiyya faithfuls on that same spot during Pro-Pal­estinian protest known as Quds Day Procession in July, 2014. In effect, who would not think like the Shi’ite that this attack was provocative and one too many aimed at testing their will? It was another un­forgettable scar in the life of a religious group who sees the Army as their arch enemy and has accused it of extra-judicial killing of its members.
The number of casualties recorded in this mayhem has rubbished the claim by the Army that it applied minimal force to ensure the safety of COAS. If the army could not apply restraint in the face of minor provocation; who else would? There is an alterna­tive route for the COAS to pass aside of that conten­tious one. The number of lives lost would have been avoided if he had taken advantage of that route. The fact that one bent down to greet a dwarf does not make one a dwarf either.
Suffice it to say, according to Albert Einstein that, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” What was the role of the police in a situation of this nature? From vari­ous accounts of the incidents there was no place the soldiers called in the police to intervene in a matter so civilian.
Differing positions taken by Iran and Saudi Arabia on this matter point to the struggle for religious su­premacy, superiority and relevance among the Sunni and Shi’ite sects around the world. Nigeria has had enough crises and should not be a testing ground for this religious experiment on superiority.