El-Zakzaky not in our custody, says Kaduna Prisons

Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

The authorities of the Kaduna Prisons on Wednesday distanced itself from purported claim that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was in the prison.

Picture of bleeding sheikh Zakzaky. Source: @ZahradeenAAhmad

While dismissing the claim, the Controller of Kaduna Prisons, Abubakar Argungu, however, said 191 members of the IMN were in the custody of the prison.

“We only have 191 followers of the Shi’ite leader in our custody. But we do not have their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, with us,” Argungu said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it would soon announce members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent clash in Zaria between the Nigerian Army and Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, the government said it had completed the composition and terms of reference of the proposed commission.

It added that effort was being made to contact all the nominees for the membership of the commission as well as the secretariat and resource persons.

The statement partly read, “The Kaduna State Government has largely completed work on the composition and the terms of reference of the proposed Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“However, the government is still engaged in extensive consultations that are required prior to a formal announcement.

“Efforts are also being made to contact all the nominees for membership of the commission, as well as the secretariat and resource persons that will support the work of this important inquiry.

“These consultations and contacts have been impacted by the holidays. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government will be delaying the announcement of the membership of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry until early in the New Year.

“Best efforts have been applied to ensure that the announcement is made within the two-week window envisaged when the decision to establish the commission of inquiry was made. But it has now emerged that a little more time is required.”

El-Zakzaky not in our custody, says Kaduna Prisons

Our men did not kill shiite members - Police denies

The Kaduna Police Command on Wednesday denied reports that its men killed three members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria during a protest at Tudun Wada area in the state capital on Tuesday.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Zubairu Abubakar, told our correspondent that none of the sect members was killed by policemen during a protest.

He further explained that the policemen were only sent to the area to forestall any break down of law and order following rumours that members of the movement were planning to embark on a violent protest in the state capital.

He also explained that the sect members were the ones that attacked the police patrol team with dangerous weapons, an act he said, prompted the policemen to use teargas to disperse the soaring protesters.

Zubairu stated that a combined team of soldiers and policemen have been stationed at Tudun Wada and other volatile areas in the state capital to maintain law and order, but advised members of the public to be law abiding and report any suspicious movement to security agencies.

In the meantime, relative calm has returned in the state capital and some parts of Zaria, while heavily armed soldiers are still stationed at the PZ and Guyllesu areas in the ancient city where the bloody clash between the sect members and soldiers took place last weekend.

A resident of Zaria told our correspondent in Kaduna that the entire place is cordoned off as nobody is allowed to move around until the situation is brought under control.

Our men did not kill shiite members - Police denies