LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that following an alleged assassination attempt on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai at about noon on Saturday, when his convoy was attacked by the Shiite members, the troops returned to El-Zakzaky’s residence in Gyallesu area of Zaria, at about 11pm.
It was gathered that moves by the troops to arrest the leader of the movement were resisted by his members.
Residents said heavy gunfire accompanied with chants by members of the movement were heard in the area for over two hours.
There were unconfirmed casualties in the late night attack.
A resident who confirmed the development over the phone said sounds of gunshots were heard around Hussainiyya area of Zaria around midnight yesterday.
Another resident also said Shiite members were seen carrying out solidarity protests around Zango road in Kaduna.
Trouble started about noon on Saturday after several persons were reported killed by soldiers in the clash which occurred at the headquarters of the movement in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Yesterday was the second time the COAS came close to death since his appointment this year.
LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that in August, Buratai escaped Boko Haram ambush when he visited troops at the battle ground in Borno State. The advance team of his convoy ran into the ambush and lost one soldier in the attack while five of the terrorists were killed by the advance team in the gun fire exchange.
Yesterday, members of the Islamic movement were said to have attacked the soldiers attached to the convoy of Burutai, who was in Zaria for a passing out parade ceremony at the Nigeria Army Depot.
Though there were conflicting reports as to what caused the clash, a witness told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the passing out parade coincided with the same date members of the Shiite movement were to hold the annual Maulud at Hussaimiyya in Zaria and changing of their flag.
“As early as 12pm, the members of Shiite barricaded the road where the COAS was to pass to the depot.
“The security details attached to the Chief of Army staff came down from the vehicle to plead with the congregation. From the distance, we could hear gunshots,” the witness said.
The source said following the gunshots, the soldiers made way for the COAS’ convoy to pass.
He said immediately the COAS left, some soldiers in trucks came to the scene and that was when pandemonium broke out, after which several persons were left dead.
Another resident who also claimed to have witnessed the incident told LEADERSHIP Sunday that a truck load of soldiers came to the headquarters of the Islamic Movement along Sokoto Road, Zaria and surrounded it and “all of a sudden we heard gunshots and many people died.”
“The soldiers have killed many people here, possibly up to 20,” he said.
“The leader of the sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is leaving his home to where the soldiers are. He is saying he does not care if he is killed too,” said the witness.
Army reacts
Explaining what happened, the Army spokesman, Colonel SK Usman, disclosed that the COAS had gone to the Emir’s palace to pay homage on the royal father and as the convoy was moving towards to military depot, the COAS vehicle was attacked by members of Shiite.
“In fact the COAS escaped assassination attempt. We were in Zaria to attend the passing out parade and to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau and some members of Shiite blocked the road and attacked the convoy.
“Luckily enough, the Army Chief escaped unhurt. But we have taken the matter to the appropriate authorities for necessary legal action because we cannot allow such unlawful acts to continue,” he stated.
But, the leader of the movement, Zakzaky, denied the claim, saying “it was soldiers who opened fire on his members for no just cause.”
“They lied to have said we attacked them, nobody attacked them, they were the ones that first stormed our headquarters with truck full of soldiers, sealed off our headquarters on a day we were supposed to change our flag and started shooting and killing our people.”
This is even as he called for calm among members of the movement.
SOURCE: LEADERSHIP SUNDAY
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