The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to probe the clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

According to several human rights groups, over 300 Shiite Muslims were killed in December 2015 clash that occurred in Zaria, Kaduna.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, hinted on the possibility of the investigation on Thursday, while receiving a 10-man delegation from the President, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto.

Vanguard reports that Salihu Othman Isah, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Attorney General, also released a statement to this effect.

In the statement, Malami was quoted to have said that the investigation was necessary to prevent a future recurrence of the avoidable deaths of hundreds of Muslims.

Meanwhile, Vanguard also reports that the leader of the sect, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzakky, may have been relocated from Kaduna to Abuja for medical attention.

A highly placed official of the Shiite sect reportedly revealed that El-Zakzaky was alive, and has been moved to Abuja to treat injuries and gunshot wounds sustained during the clash of his members with the army.

“I have been told by highly placed, credible multiple sources in the security services that the sheikh is alive and has been moved to Abuja. I was told that the security services had to battle to save his life because of the multiple gun shots inflicted on him. I do not have any reason to doubt my sources” the source, who is a highly placed government official, told Vanguard.

“We were told that el-Rufai had to intervene by calling on a higher military authorities for the life of the Sheikh to be spared. He knows the implication of killing the Sheikh bearing in mind what happened to Boko Haram.

“After killing the second and third in command of the Shiites sect, it would have been disastrous if the Sheikh was killed too. El-Rufai’s intervention was very important because the reaction of his followers would have been out of control.”

Kolapo Olapoju