Army/Shi’ites clash: Panel submits report to NHRC boss

 

The investigative panel set up to probe the clash between soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise known as Shi’ite sect in Zaria on December 13, 2015, has submitted its draft report to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe.

The PUNCH had reported on March 9, 2016 that the five-man panel set up by the NHRC to investigate the incident was expected to turn in its report after it heard the last set of witnesses on March 1.

Our correspondent learnt on Sunday that the panel, led by Mr. Tony Ojukwu, had some weeks after concluding its hearing, submitted a draft copy of its report to the NHRC’s Executive Secretary.

The NHRC’s Chief Press Officer, Mrs. Fatima Mohammed, told our correspondent on Sunday that the report was in its final stage.

“The draft (report) has been submitted to the Executive Secretary. Finishing touches are being put on the report. So, very soon it will be released to the public,” Mohammed said.

It was learnt that during the hearing, the panel entertained testimonies from representatives of the Army, the Shi’ites, the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Kaduna State Government.

The panel also visited the scene of the bloody clash in Zaria and interacted with representatives of the Kaduna State Government as well as residents.

The panel, which was given two months to conduct its investigation and submit its report, started sitting on January 13.

The proceedings of the panel, which lasted about one and a half months, were conducted in camera.

The panel, under its six terms of reference, was expected to find out the immediate and remote causes of the incident.