Fidelis Soriwei and Godwin Isenyo
Sayyid, one of the sons of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shiite, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the sect’s deputy leader, Sheikh Turi Mohammed; his wife, Zeenat; as well as the spokesperson for the movement, Ibrahim Usman, and two others were killed during the clash between members of the sect and the Nigerian troops.
The other two were Dr. Mustapha Sa’eed and Sister Jummai Gilima,
They were killed during a gun duel between members of the movement and troops which started on Saturday night and run into the early hours of Sunday in Zaria, Kaduna State, capital when soldiers laid siege to the Gyallesu residence of El-Zakzaky.
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The attack was premeditated by members of the Shiíte, who allegedly attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, when he was on his way to attend the passing-out parade of soldiers at the 73 Regular Recruitment of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.
Over 20 other people were injured in the clash between the followers of El-Zakzaky and soldiers.
The Shiíte men were said to have had a clash with the soldiers when they barricaded the road while the Army chief was on his way to attend the passing-out ceremony.
The Nigerian Army has said that a public inquiry will be conducted on the clash.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, who described the incident as unfortunate in a statement on Sunday, said that the activities of the sect would no longer be allowed to cause hardship to members of the public using the road.
He stressed that while it was the right of the group to hold a peaceful procession, it was also the right of the members of the public to use the road without molestation.