A nongovernmental organization, Access to Justice, has alleged that the army had a ‘predetermined mandate’ to attack members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN last weekend in a clash that led to the death of over ten members of IMN leaving over hundreds injured.
Access to Justice, during a press conference, addressed by its Director, Joseph Otteh vowed to drag the army to International Criminal Court because the response of the Army towards the Shiite protesters was a crime against humanity.
Mr Otteh insisted that “the Army lacked constitutional mandate to disperse protests or procession of any kind”.
He said “The convoy of the Chief of Army Staff could have, in order not to escalate an already violate situation that was unraveling along Zaria Road, chosen another route into Kaduna.
“This would have been a course of action you would expect from a very senior official of government who wants to avoid possible, in fact, likely repercussions of engaging in violent confrontation with the protesters.
“It was reasonably foreseeable that violence can further inflame religious passions which were already very high among members of the Islamic movement, who had already lost many members to military attacks last year and previous years.
“Such confrontation could also trigger a violent blackash and radicalise members of the group in the same way that Boko Haram was transformed after security and law enforcement officials attacked their members and extra judicially executed many of them.
“This history should have figured in how the military chooses to respond to protesters.
“The people of Nigeria have a right to assemble freely, even on public streets. Where protests offend against traffic laws, the protesters should be managed or restrained and if necessary, prosecuted.”
He recommended that “Access to Justice demands that a thorough, independent and impartial inquiry be carried out by the Federal Government over this incident.
“It should be noted that this is not the first time the Nigerian Army has attacked members of the sect.
“In July 2014, scores of members of this group, including two sons of Sheik El-Zakzaky were killed by officers of the Nigerian Army as they were holding a peaceful procession along a road.
“Up till this time, the Nigerian government has yet to investigate the incident neither has anyone been brought to account over the attacks.”
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