Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said that the arrested Shi’ite sect leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zak-Zaky is no longer in the army’s custody, he has been handed to appropriate authorities for prosecution.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Buratai said this when he met with a delegation from the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
He clearly stated that lawlessness cannot be tolerated in the country especially when one part is facing with terrorism.
He said “As a responsible and law abiding organization, we will do all that we can to always safeguard lives and property.
“As for the whereabouts of the Shi’ite leader, he is not in our custody; he has been handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution because we don’t prosecute.
“What happened was avoidable and unfortunate, we followed the rules of engagement as enshrined in the constitution but what happened still happened.”
He denied reports that the army is after the sect, saying that it was only carrying out its constitutional duties.
Leader of the NSCIA, Prof. Daud Noibi explained that the group was on a fact finding mission. He appealed to Buratai to let the delegation meet with the leader of the sect.
Noibi assured the Chief of Army staff that NSCIA would make efforts to douse the tension that had engulfed parts of the North following Saturday’s incident in Zaria.