Army/Shiite Clash: Northern Governors Ban Processions
Army/Shiite Clash: Northern Governors Ban Processions
By ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
As part of measure to stop the escalation of the crisis that befalls some states in the northern part of the country, following the clash between the Nigerian Army and Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiite group).
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has banned unauthorised processions in all Northern States.
In a communiqué read by the chairman of the forum, Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima said “henceforth processions must necessarily be with police permit and protection as prescribed by the law.”
He frowned at the arbitrary blockage of highways by some groups through unauthorised processions thereby causing inconveniences to citizens.
The Governor reassures citizens of its readiness to maintain law and order while respecting the constitutional rights of citizens to practice their faith in a manner devoid of infringing the rights of others.
He noted that the unfortunate incident, though local but it has the potential to degenerate into a sub-national and national security challenges.
They commended the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai for decision to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to examine the remote and immediate causes of the incident.
They endorsed all steps taken so far by the Kaduna State Government and called on all Nigerians to respect the law and constituted authority and charged every organisations, both religious and social to operate within the confine of the law.
Shettima also called on all Nigerians irrespective of their in political affiliations, religious persuations, sectional or ethnic background to coalasce into a single unit and collectively fight our common tragedies of poverty, destitution and illiteracy, noting that “the problems confronting us go beyond politics, therefore we should unite to confront our common challenges.”
He therefore, appealed to the media to exercise restraint, decorum and avoid inflaming passions or stoking the embers of division and intolerance and encourage citizens to report suspicious and concerns to constituted authority.
He also condoled the Kaduna State Government and the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy and wished the wounded speedy recovery.
Similarly, Governor Shettima confirmed that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Elzakzaky is safe and alive and will be prosecuted for criminal charges according to the Nigerian law
