Military Explains Restrain on Clampdown Against Zakyzaky’s Group

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Friday, August 1st, 2014

…Says Full Investigations Ongoing

By Tajudeen Balogun

The Defence Headquaters has clarified that the need for it to allow mounted tension subside in Zaria city, Kaduna after the recent encounter between soldiers on routine patrol and members of Shiite Islamic sect last Friday informed the initial silence of the Military hierarchy.

It stated that while not “underplaying the significance of such incident”, the Headquarters deemed it fit that it was necessary to ensure that sufficient information was obtained from the unit level and other reliable sources, hence, the preliminary investigation was therefore initiated to unravel the circumstances surrounding the clash. Again, it confirmed that the next stage of investigation was ongoing at the Divisional level.

In a statement issued on Friday, by Defenece Spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade, the Military revealed that findings of the preliminary investigation at the unit level contradicted some key issues raised by the group’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El – Zakyzaky.

Olukolade indicated that the leader’s statement, with respect to allegation of extra judicial killings, has prompted the Headquarters to commence further investigation on the incident “to ascertain the claims in the preliminary reports from the unit level”.

“In spite of the preliminary findings, the importance placed on the respect for Human Rights in all military operations, activities and interactions, has prompted the additional steps presently being taken to ascertain the true situation” the statement emphasized.

The higher military enquiry, Major Olukolade disclosed was with a view to unmasking the remote and immediate causes of the incident and to identify those who were culpable, adding that those arrested were already being interrogated.

In the main time, the Defence Headquarters has commiserated with the families of the victims of the invasion, especially the group’s leader who reportedly lost his sons.