Panel probing onto Zaria massacre

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has rejected the Judicial Panel of Enquiry into the deadly violence the army meted on Shiite followers in Kaduna State last December.

Intersociety described the panel set up earlier this year as “nothing but an act of uselessness and effort in futility.”

“Fundamental flaws inherent in the Panel’s constitution, composition, legal status, procedures, proceedings, outcomes and enforceability are also basket-loaded,” said Intersociety Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi.

He said panel headed Justice Muhammad Lawal-Garba had “grave” flaws abound in its constitution, composition, legal status, procedures, proceedings, outcomes and enforceability  .

Umeagbalasi bemoaned the fact Shiite leader, Mallam Ibraheem, El-Zak-Zaky, was shot and detained without trial for months, the law under which the judicial panel of enquiry was set up is the law of Kaduna State or a State law, which is inferior to federal law and the judicial panel of enquiry did not apply the rule of law in its procedures and proceedings.



“We hereby reject the outcomes of the Kangaroo Judicial Panel of Enquiry under reference, particularly its deliberate attempt to shift criminal responsibilities off the neck of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Turkur Buratai,” said Umeagbalasi.

He said to set the record straight, there was no clash between the soldiers and Shiite, who are members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), but a premeditated and well coordinated State terror and genocide.

“Even the kangaroo Kaduna State Judicial Panel of Enquiry admitted that ‘one army corporal was lynched while at least 347 corpses of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were massacred by soldiers in the presence of its COAS and buried in mass graves.’”

He said contrary to army allegations the followers wanted to assassinate Buratai, Shiite members were performing their annual faith processions, using a major road in Zaria, leading to heavy human traffic, which slowed down vehicular movements including the convoy of Buratai.

Buratai said to worsen matters two days to the massacre, on December 14, over of 809 Shiite members were allegedly killed or made to disappear till date.




- CAJ News