Army-Shiite clash: Panel recommends prosecution of soldiers

Soldiers who participated in the alleged killing of members of the Shiite Muslim sect during a clash with the army in December 2015, may be prosecuted.

This is as the Kaduna State Commission of inquiry into the clash has recommended the identification and prosecution of the soldiers.

The state Government on Sunday night officially released the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the December 2015 bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

According to Punch, the report also indicted the leader of the Shiites, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, for his refusal to caution his members during the crisis, which it said was ‘avoidable.’

The report read in part, “The commission is of the view that the use of excessive force by the Nigerian Army, which led to the heavy casualties recorded in the Cordon and Search Operation is an act of commission for which the NA is directly responsible.

“The commission therefore recommends that steps should  immediately be taken to identify the members of the NA who participated in the killings of 12th- 14th December 2015 incident with a view to prosecuting them.”

“Security agencies should ensure watch-listing of IMN members and other persons of security interests, whenever they are going out or coming into Nigeria with a view to discovering the sources of their funding, foreign contacts and other useful and relevant information.”

The panel also directed that EI-Zakzaky should be personally held responsible for all the acts of the entire membership of the Islamic movement.

“Considering the nature and organisational structure of the IMN, where the leader has the total control over the members, Sheikh lbraheem EI-Zakzaky should be personally held responsible for all the acts of commission and omission of the entire membership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in its clashes with the Nigerian Army for refusing to call his members to order when required to do so.

“Members of the IMN should never be allowed to carry any unlicensed weapon under any guise. Whosoever found so doing should be prosecuted immediately.

“Intelligence reports by security agencies regarding all threats to security, law and order should be taken seriously and acted upon to nip in the bud such occurrences.

“The Federal Government should have the political will to deal with such threats posed by the IMN and similar groups.”

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