Buratai Under Attack Over Zaria Bloodbath

Sequel to the clash between the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a group propagating the Shi’ite ideology in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has advised Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, to immediately resign, The Punch reports.

READ ALSO: MUST READ: Army Reveals What Really Happened With El-Zakzaky, Other Shiites

This comes following the alleged attack on members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by soldiers in Kaduna which left several Shiites dead.

In a statement by Segun Sango, the SPN spokesperson, on Monday, December 21, Soldiers allegedly killed prominent members of the sect and arrested the leader of the group, Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky, and killed three of his sons after an altercation between the soldiers and members of the group over the obstruction of the convoy of the army boss.

The Socialist Party of Nigeria has advised Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff to resign

The SPN said: “We hold that the Chief of Army Staff, General Barutai, has shown that the Nigerian Army under his leadership is an anti-democratic and repressive army and we demand his immediate resignation. We call on the entire trade union movement to stage mass protests to demand an end to all these undemocratic attacks and in particular to call for the immediate resignation of the army boss.

“We also condemn the pronouncements credited to the Kaduna state governor, Mallam el-Rufai, imposing a ban on mass processions and protests in the state, which is directly targeted at the Shiites calling for the release of their famous leader.

“While we of the SPN may not agree with the Shiites on their religious fundamentalist perspectives and methodology, we submit that they have the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. We hold that the argument of the army that the attack on the Shiites was provoked by the barricading of the highway which the COAS was plying as completely baseless.”

READ ALSO: Zaria Massacre: Over 200 Muslim Leaders To Attend Emergency Meeting

On Saturday, December 12, a road, which is the only artery out of Zaria, Kaduna state towards Sokoto state, was reportedly overwhelmed by the Shi’ite officers. The army chief’s convoy came down to negotiate a passage, but were unsuccessful.

The army claim that Lt. General Burutai himself then alighted from his vehicle to negotiate passage, and this was when the alleged stoning and murder attempt began.

It was at the time when the COAS was allegedly hit, that his security detail began shooting in the air to disperse the Shi’ites.

Latter reports had it that over the following two days, the army went after Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Shi’ites, at his residence.

Sources say there were gunshots and explosions through the day, and night, and by the end of Sunday, December 13, reports came through that Muhammad Turi, Zakzaky’s deputy, was killed. Also reported were the deaths of Zakzaky’s wife, a son, and some other senior members of the group as he (El-Zakzaky) was whisked away.

The post Buratai Under Attack Over Zaria Bloodbath appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.

loading...