Kaduna Constitutes Judicial Commission Of Inquiry On Zaria Clashes

 Following the deadly clash between soldiers of the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, a Shi’a group, the Kaduna State Government has announced the composition of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

The judicial commission of inquiry is established under Section 2 of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry Law, 1991.

By the composition, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba of the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal will serve as chairman.

Other members who are to serve as commissioners to the judicial commission of inquiry include Prof. Salihu Shehu of Bayero University, Kano; Prof. Umar Labdo of Northwest University, Kano; and Malam Salihu Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Others include Prof. Auwalu Yadudu; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Mr. Afakriya Gadzama; Brigadier-General Aminun-Kano Maude (rtd); Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim; Mrs. Khadijah Hawaja Gambo; Mr. Bilya Bala; Major-General Alexander Anjili Mshelbwala among others.

A statement issued by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Samuel Aruwan on Saturday, emphasized that, “The members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Zaria clashes were chosen for their professional competences as lawyers, jurists, scholars of religion, human rights activists, security experts and media practitioners”.

Recall that the December bloody clash between the Nigerian Army and Islamic Movement in Nigeria resulted in the death of over 60 Shi’a Muslims while leader of the sect, Sheike Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, his wife and some members of the group were seriously injured.

The Shi’a sect’s spiritual headquarters in Zaria was also demolished in the aftermath of the clash, which began when some youths of the movement blocked the highway, preventing the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was in the town for an official engagement, from passing through.