The Zazzau Emirate Development Association, ZEDA, on Monday told the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Army/Shiites clash how the Islamic Movement in Nigeria terrorised the Zaria community for over 40 years before the current travails of the sect.
Chairman of ZEDA, Mohammed Balarabe narrated how the movement terrorized the emirate, saying that the Shiites take laws into their hands and are always in the habit of shutting down the roads while holding procession.
He said the Shiites always held the entire emirate council, including the community hostage during their processions. “In most cases we don’t go out and we are forced to stay indoors,” he said.
He said the December 12 clash between the members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army was not the first time while admitting that the group is violent in nature.
He noted that before clash with the Army last year, the group had clashed even with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the former governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero as well as a series of bloody encounters with previous government administrations.
The ZEDA boss said, “We are familiar with the movement’s actions for over 40 years of its existence. And as someone who schooled in Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, we know where the shoe pinches.
“Whenever we heard they have an outing, we stay away because it will bring untold hardship on the people. They shut the road. They have outings on Thursday and we shun the roads to avoid confrontations.
“It’s not their first time, they have done it to the Emir of Zaria, Dr. Shehu Idris and former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero when he was to visit a sick friend in the hospital.”
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