Almost always, the Shia Muslims in Nigeria, also known as Shiites, are in the news for the wrong reason. They are either protesting or agitating and the end, as a matter of course, is violence that usually leaves bodies bruised and battered, hearts broken and, in extreme cases, souls decimated.
Last Tuesday, in Abuja, hell seemed to have been let loose as the Shiites engaged the Nigeria police in a fierce duel, leading to the death of many innocent people including a senior police officer and a young reporter, a corps member serving with Channels Television.
Though the two-day duel was as bad as violence of that magnitude could be, it was not worse than what the country had seen from this minority group of Muslims in Nigeria estimated at three million. They are a small fraction of the Muslim community in Nigeria estimated at 50 percent of the country’s 200 million people.
The Shiites are not new to violence. Since 2015, the group has been having one clash after another with Nigeria’s security agencies. Most of the clashes they have had within this period are in protest against the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky.
El-Zakzaky is the head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) which is an umbrella body for Shia Muslims in the country seeking justice for their members who were killed in the 2015 clash they had with the Nigerian Army. The group also wants an account for the hundreds of their members who have gone missing and, above all, the release of el-Zakzaky who has been held in detention with his wife Zeenah for four years following the clash.
The Shia head was accused of murder, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace and other charges in respect of the clash.
An unconfirmed account has it that before the violence of 2015, el-Zakzaky’s Shia Muslims were a relatively unknown religious minority. But he is a Muslim scholar who is alleged to have got his inspiration from the 1979 revolution that happened in Iran.
Clearly, El-Zakzaky is the Muslim variant of the Pentecostal pastors whose style of preaching is not always agreeable to the more conservative orthodox Christian priests and preachers.
He is charismatic in his style of preaching which appeals to the youthful Muslim population who are disenchanted with the government, resulting in millions of converts in a country that once had hardly any Shia Muslims. Today, according to records, there are an estimated three million Shia Muslims in Nigeria.
It is, therefore, understandable why the set is always violent in their protest even when they set out on a peaceful demonstration. It is the youthful energy in the members, coupled with their disenchantment with the social milieu in which they live, that has little or nothing to offer them that are erupting as violence each time they have cause to protest.
Abdullahi Muhammad, a 32-year old Shi’ite whose family members were killed four years ago, typifies this youthful spirit/energy. In 2015, he travelled to Zaria in Kaduna State with six relatives to observe Ashoura. Their car was caught up in a clash between the army and worshippers.
Muhammad alleged that the soldiers shot at his car and killed five of his family members that day. According to him, two of them were undergraduates in colleges. One was his elder sister. The other was an in-law. The last was his youngest cousin preparing to enter college that year. Ever since then, he has vowed to give his life “to fight tyranny.”
Over and above other considerations, however, recent violent incidents happening mostly in Abuja and involving the group are as a result of the continued detention of El-Zakzaky who the government has kept in detention despite court orders to release him and his wife.
Defenders of government of the day insist the continued detention of the Muslim scholar was justified for security reasons, explaining that, if allowed the political space, El-Zakzaky and his group may want to replicate the Iranian revolution in Nigeria which, of course, will not be in the best interest of anybody.
But social and political pundits reason differently. According to them, given the repeated violence resulting from the clashes of El-Zakzaky group and security agencies, and the heavy casualties recorded, government is supposed to reconsider its stand on the group and its leader.
“The mayhem in Abuja on Monday was avoidable. All that Nigeria needed to avert the calamity is a different approach to leadership. All the country needs is a leader who believes in the rule of law, not one that behaves as an outlaw,” said Ikechukwu Amaechi, a social commentator.
Amaechi reasons that if Nigeria claims to be in democracy, then the leadership must subscribe to the rule of law, adding that Buhari’s hard man posture on the El-Zakzaky’s continued detention and the ensuing violence is not only self-defeating, but also undemocratic, counter-productive and endangering the Nigerian state.
The Nigeria Army alleged after its clash with the group in 2015 that the IMN members “armed with batons, knives, and machetes stopped the convoy of the military”, explaining that it acted in self-defence and to avert the possible assassination of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.
Though it is difficult to disprove this, Don Okereke, a Nigeria security analyst, is of the view that the manner the Nigerian government is handling this issue leaves much to be desired as far as human rights and the rule of law are concerned.
Okereke insists the rule of law must not be sacrificed on the altar of national security. Ebere Ndubisi, a political scientist, agrees, stressing that the Federal Government should not, for whatever reason, mix politics with religion.
“Anything that will lead to loss of lives should be managed well in the interest of the people. Just imagine the Channel Television reporter whose life was cut in its prime because of what is, apparently, religious interest of a few individuals. That boy is only 21 years old and still serving his country. That same country, instead of giving him life in its fullness, has conspired with forces of darkness to end his life in a most gruesome manner,” Ndubisi lamented.
The poor youth corps member was just one of a thousand and one other youths and adults who have had to pay the supreme sacrifice for religious in-fighting they know nothing about.
A lot of people demand that the government changes its stance on this group. Amaechi argues that if El-Zakzaky dies in detention, the consequence might be cataclysmic, wondering if the country needs all the trouble when simple adherence to the rule of law would solve the problem.
El-Zakzaky’s continued detention questions the independence of the judiciary
Despite various charges including murder against the Shi’ites leader by the Kaduna State government, the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 2016, (a year after) ordered the release of the couple and two other Shi’ites members from custody.
Sadly, almost three years since the court release order, El-Zakzaky, his wife and two members of the sect, are still in detention.
For many people, the continued detention against court order makes mess of the so-called democracy, which the country acclaims to run as such acts are commonplace during military rule, where freedom is not guaranteed.
Yet, the independence of the judiciary is in question as the executive arm flouts court orders, a development, which many political analysts say is not healthy for democracy, especially in Nigeria where many issues are confronting its unity.
“The Shi’ites case is not the first time the present administration is flouting court order. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was almost not released despite standing court order to release him. I don’t see El-Zakzaky leaving detention soon”, Imadi Ajume, a public affairs analyst, said.
Ajume, who said the Shi’ites are minority Islamic sect, noted that even minority ethnic groups in the country such as Igala, his tribe, are neglected as the laws hardly carter to their welfare and protection, and when they do, nobody obeys them.
In line with Ajume, Yakubu Ahmed, a Shi’ite, accused the Nigerian government of gross violation of minority rights in Nigeria across ethnicity, religion and other divides.
“The Nigerian Muslims are more of Sunnis. A Sunni Sheikh would not have been detained this long, as well; the government would quickly obey court order because one of them was involved. But all of them in government swore oath to uphold the constitution of the country, which should guarantee freedom and protection of all citizens”, Ahmed said.
Also, looking at the flouting of court order, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), called for speedy trial of the couple and the two Shi’ites members who are facing murder charge at the High Court in Kaduna.
Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of the commission, warned that the crisis could degenerate into “monumental human rights and humanitarian crises” if not handled peacefully.
The continued detention is also condemned globally, especially by Amnesty International, which think the Nigerian government is infringing on the constitutional rights of the Shi’ites to express their views.
The London-based non-governmental organisation, which focuses on human rights, is also not happy on the recent attack on protesting Shi’ites in Abuja. According to Seun Bakare, programme manager at Amnesty International Nigeria, “This new crackdown is part of a shocking pattern in which security forces have used live ammunition to disperse IMN supporters who are simply exercising their freedom of expression.
“Images of IMN supporters being driven from the streets of Abuja with gunfire demonstrate once again the Nigerian authorities’ resolve to use lethal force rather than the rule of law in addressing the grievances of the IMN”.
Though Amnesty was among the bodies that called for independent investigations on the attacks on the Shi’ites protesters, Ahmed said the only thing needed to stop the protests, which Shi’ites vowed to continue is to release their leader.
“As long as El-Zakzaky is still in detention, the Shi’ites will continue to demand his release and they are ready to do that despite the many threats. I want other Nigerian minorities, whether religion, ethnic or political minorities to stand with the Shi’ites because it is a big slap on rule of law and gross injustice to on minority rights”, he said.
Considering claims by Shi’ites members that their leader is sick and should be released for urgent medical attention, Ajume urged for speedy trial of the suspects to also save other Nigerians who are not Shi’ites from falling victims of the continued protests.
Since the death of Yakuku Dankaduna, an Army corporal, who was part of the convoy allegedly attacked by the Shi’ites in Zaria, many others have died. Usman Umar, deputy commissioner of Police in charge of Operations Federal Capital Territory Command, and Precious Owolabi, an innocent, Channels Television journalist, both lost their lives during the Abuja protest, many sustained injuries, yet the Shi’ites are dying at every protest and never captured. It is enough, try them, if found guilty or innocent take action accordingly and close the case,” Ajume advised.
…And the tears continue to flow
It was a very pathetic scene in Wusasa cemetery, Zaria in Kaduna State, on July 25, 2019 when uncontrollable tears were flowing down like torrent from the eyes of relatives, colleagues and well-wishers as the body of late Precious Owolabi, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was committed to the mother earth.
The 21-year-old late Owolabi, who was attached to Channels Television as a corps member, was killed in his prime after being hit by a stray bullet while covering the violent protest and clash between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites’ and the Nigerian Police around the Federal Secretariat in Abuja on Monday July 22, 2019 as Channel’s reporter.
The presumed ‘peaceful protest’ turned violent when the officers of the Nigerian Police attempted to disrupt the protest by ‘firing unlawfully,’ according to Human Rights Watch, on Shia protesters.
Aside Owolabi, it was also reported that Usman Umar, a deputy commissioner of Police, was also murdered during the protest. Umar, who was in charge of operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, was shot and fatally injured by the protesters and was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died moments later while receiving treatment.
The Shia movement was protesting the unlawful detention of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the movement since 2015 by the Federal Government, as well as the act of refusing him access to proper medical care.
Report has it that on the July 22, 2019, eleven protesters including Owolabi and Umar, were killed, while dozens of other people were either wounded or arrested.
According to eye witnesses, the police unlawfully open fire on the protesters who were on peaceful protest.
“They started shooting at everyone – they didn’t care who the bullets hit. A bullet hit my left leg, and I was carried away by my brothers in the movement,” said a 26-year-old University of Abuja student.
The student said he participated in the protest with his friends until policemen opened fire on them.
“I went to the university hospital’s emergency room but left when police arrived to arrest protesters. We have changed our location twice because we are afraid of the police. The bullet is still in my leg; I think my leg is broken. I feel so much pain all over my body,” the student reportedly said.
Members of the movement had earlier on July 9, 2019 taken their protest to the National Assembly, which resulted to abrupt shut down of the seating of the legislators.
Contrary to the claim by Nigerian Police that Shia movement staged violent protest, the movement denied all allegations of violence by their members who took part in the protest.
They however, alleged that the police were responsible for the deaths of deputy commissioner Umar and Owolabi, Channel’s reporter.
Several human right groups and individuals that have the peace and unity of this country at heart have reacted to both the protest, and the reasons behind it. They have also raised valuable questions and concerns, which the presidency needs to look into in order to uphold peace in the already tensed country.
“The mistake President Buhari has made is to refuse to release El Zak Zaky and to have continued to persecute and kill his supporters and members of the Shia Muslim community. History proves that Shias are ferocious fighters and they are far better educated and more enlightened than Sunnis,” said Femi Fani-Kayode, a lawyer and former minister of aviation, on his twitter handle.
Fani-Kayode, who made it clear that he did not agree with the movement on many things, said the Shia will not back down from this fight even if government kills them in their millions.
“Until justice is done and their demands are met, they will continue to return to the streets to protest. The biggest mistake that Buhari can make is to ban the IMN. The Shia Muslims have every right to practise their faith just as the Sunni Muslims and Christians do. Nigeria is a secular state where freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed,” he added.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday July 23, 2019, John Momoh, chairman of Channels Group, asked Police Headquarters to open up investigation into the killing of Owolabi.
Momoh, who made the request during a visit to Police Headquarters in Abuja, said it was extremely important that the culprit was brought to book, in order to help bring succour to the families of those affected by the clash.
On their part, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) advised Nigerian security forces to abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which states that security forces shall “apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms,” and that whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, security forces should exercise restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved.
The UN principle, according HRW, further advised security officials to also minimise injury and preserve human life.
The intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made “when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.” The Basic Principles further provide that in cases of death or serious injury, “a detailed report shall be sent promptly to the competent authorities.”
The Human Rights Watch also called for joint impartial investigations into the July 22 protest and violence by the Nigerian judicial officials and the National Human Rights Commission.
“Those responsible for the unlawful use of force should be brought to justice in fair trials. Authorities should immediately release protesters who were arbitrarily arrested and who have not been charged with a credible offense, and they should ensure that all injured protesters have safe access to urgent medical care,” the HRW further suggested.
According to Human Rights Watch, Nigerian authorities have used excessive force against Shia Movement protesters since 2015.
On December 12, 2015, the Nigerian army used ‘excessive force’ against the group’s street procession in Zaria, Kaduna State, which was allegedly attributed to efforts to clear the way for the army chief’s convoy.
This singular act resulted to a 3-day crackdown where the army killed 347 members of the group and arrested hundreds more, including the group’s leader, El Zakzaky, and his wife, Ibraheemat.
Instead of the arrest deterring member of the Shia movement from protesting, the continuous refusal of the presidency to release the leader against court order has been resulting to several other protests by members.
The Presidency reacts
Femi Adesina, senior special assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, while reacting to the clash on Channel Television, said: “Let me start by condoling with Channels Television on the sad loss of the reporter, condoling with the police on the loss of the DCP and all those that have been lost earlier in these series of clashes and even with the Shiites group because life does not need to be wasted wantonly and that is what we have seen in this Shiite protests. If you are human, the death of anybody will diminish you”.
He further said: “Perpetrators of the mayhem will not go unpunished…Let nobody or group doubt or test our will to act in the higher interest of majority of our citizens.”
He recalled that there were no problems when the group first started protesting, noting that they worked with the Police who handled their protests well.
He said authorities only responded to the protesters’ violence when they started causing murder and mayhem in public.
“People didn’t die in the first year of protests, but who escalated it to the point of murder and mayhem? It’s the protesters. And the security forces can’t just keep their eyes open and watch things deteriorate,” he said.
Adesina noted that Monday’s clash could have been worse if the Police responded to the situation with greater force, especially after DCP Umar was killed.
“If the police had responded in similar fashion, you would have been talking of rivers of blood in Abuja now. I still believe there was some restraint despite what happened and, personally, I still commend the police for showing that restraint,” he said.
CHUKA UROKO, OBINNA EMELIKE and AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
