There is tension in Kaduna as members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria are said to have embarked on a protest over the arrest and detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky.
Channels Television correspondent reported on Tuesday afternoon that the protest rumour has forced traders and offices to close their shops.
Also, Kaduna State Polytechnic which is very close to Tudun Wada has also locked up.
Security forces were seen patrolling the entire city to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Soldiers reportedly invaded the residence of the group’s leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in Guillesu area of Zaria on Sunday morning
An eyewitness told Channels Television’s correspondent that the soldiers allegedly stormed the area to arrest Sheik Zakzaky and in the process, opened fire on the members who gathered at his residence.
The incident happened after security was beefed up in Zaria, Kaduna State, following a bloody clash between members of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Zaria which left three people dead and several others wounded on Saturday.
On Monday, members of the Shiite Islamic Movement had demanded the release of the bodies of their colleagues that were killed by soldiers during the clashes on Saturday and Sunday for proper burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The members alleged that heavily armed soldiers were still laying siege to the demolished residence of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky and have also prevented them from evacuating the corpses for proper burial.
President of Media Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, told Channels Television’s correspondent that the soldiers, rather than allowing them to evacuate the dead bodies, were seen loading them inside their trucks to an unknown destination.
He also said that soldiers had formed a road block near the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic along the Kaduna- Zaria expressway and also along Zaria- Kano highway in search of their members to kill.
Rescued Not Arrested
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has debunked rumours that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was arrested by soldiers at his residence and his wife killed.
General Oyebade disclosed that the Islamic cleric and his wife were rescued alive during the bloody clash between the sect members and soldiers, adding that they were in the Army’s protective custody.
The Nigerian Army has also petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the alleged assassination attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai along Sokoto road in Zaria, Kaduna State on Saturday, December 12, 2015 by members of the Shiite sect.
Presenting a two-page petition to the NHRC, the Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Abubakar, said that personnel on the entourage of the Chief of Army Staff responded to gunshots fired at their convoy by members of the sect in order to provide a safe corridor for the Army Chief and his convoy.
“The Chief of Army Staff wishes to reiterate and assure the Shiites nationwide that the Nigerian Army is not in any way against them but was forced to respond to the brutal attack by some misguided elements within them,” he said.
