Army/Shi'ite clash in Kaduna ;National Embarrassment

When I heard about the clash and the death of over 60 people, I first thought it was another Boko Haram attack. I didn't see it as serious issue because that was not the first time people died in such terror attack. But when I heard the full story and the cause of the fracas, it was nothing short of embarrassment to the nation as a whole.

It was an holy procession by Shi'ite Muslims in Zaria. They barricaded the road in the process.  Shiites members blocked a highway and refused all entreaties by senior army officers to let the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai the right of way.An encounter later ensued that led to the killing of 7 persons shortly afterwards. There has been conflicting reports on the death toll which has been alleged in several quarters to range from 60 to 100 corpses.

It was actually a disrespect to a constituted authority, number one soldier in this country by the way. This is a nation with law. A law abiding citizen barricading and stopping Chief of Army Staff from going or using the government road has already committed treasonable felony. Whatever their grievances were, are they supposed to take law into their own hand? I heard their leaders are already planning to take the injustice against them to Court. For the record, Shi'ite Muslim sect is not an outlaw organisation. It is backed by law. I have a story where I wrote the genesis of Shi'ite and Sunni Islamic sect.

On the part of the army, lack of effective communication was the cause of this. Sincerely speaking, the Shiite thought they were being marginalized because, as one of their leaders said, if it was a Sunnis or Christians procession or programmes that was going on, the military would have giving them respect and take another route. Beside this, there was supposed to have been effective communication as to the situation reports before such a big army wig embark on such journey on that road. If they were Boko Haram,  that was how COAS's life would have been put in jeopardy. Get the video online and make your personal judgement on this issue.