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| Governor El-Rufai receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Army/Shiites clash |
Governor
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday said anyone indicted by the
Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government in December
Shiites-Army clash in Zaria will be appropriately sanctioned.
El-Rufai
said this while receiving the report of the Commission in Kaduna.
The
commission, inaugurated in January, was mandated to investigate the clash
between the Shiites Islamic Movement and the Nigerian Army in Zaria.
The
governor said the report will be diligently studied for proper implementation.
He said
the state government will be guided by the commission’s recommendations in
assigning administrative and criminal responsibility to those who allegedly
participated in the violence.
“Kaduna
State has witnessed at least 10 rounds of ethnics and religious violence in the
last three decades,” he said.
El-Rufai
said a white paper conveying the decision of government on the recommendations
of the commission would be issued promptly.
“And the
necessary follow up actions will be taken to avoid similar crises that took
place in the last three decades in parts of state”.
El-rufai
said the commission was set up to provide best option for accountability and
transparency in providing justice to the affected persons in the mayhem.
He
commended the chairman and members for accepting to serve in the commission and
for their commitment.
The
chairman of the commission, Justice Mohammad Garba, had earlier thanked
the state government for finding them worthy to participate in the inquiry.
He,
however, said that members of the Shiites movement did not appear before the
commission, adding that they had decided to opt out of the hearing without
formal reason.
Garba
said the commission could not meet up with the six-week deadline because of the
group’s failure to appear despite efforts made to convince the sect to appear
before it.
“They
were represented by a counsel and they decided to opt out without formal reason
or formal communication,” Garba said.
He
appreciated the public support and the security agencies while conducting the
public hearing.
He said
more than 350 memos were received from within and outside the state.
The
chairman also said that 40 copies of the final report had been presented
to the state government for necessary action.
About
347 people were killed during the clash.
Labels: El-Rufai, Governor El-Rufai Vows to Sanction Culprits of the Army/Shiites clash, Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the clash between the Shiites Islamic Movement and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Shiites, Shiites clash with the Nigerian Army: Culprits to be sanctioned
