Iranian president calls Buhari over killing of Shiites

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The President of Iranian, Hassan Rouhani, on Tuesday called President Muhammadu Buhari over the clash between the Nigeria Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, whose members are pro-Iranian Shiites, the Islamic News Agency reported.

Rouhani was said to have enquired about the care being provided for those injured in the clash and called on the Nigerian government to “relieve the entire bereaved families and injured victims of that disaster and to issue strict orders to prevent the occurrence of any further unrests”.

The Iranian President, who accused a group of countries of creating discord among Muslims, said, “The Islamic world is more than ever before in need to peace and peaceful resolving of its existing problems.”

He called on Buhari to set up a committee to look into the clash, adding that Iran was ready to provide medical and relief teams to aid the victims.

Buhari was quoted as saying that the Nigerian government was determined to find the exact cause of the clash and react accordingly to it.

The president could not be immediately reached for comment.

The clash on Saturday and Sunday between the army and the movement was said to have been premeditated by members of the sect, who allegedly attacked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

The army said Buratai was attacked on his way to attend the passing-out parade of the solders at the 73 Regular Recruitment of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria.

Sayyid, one of El-Zakzaky’s sons; the sect’s deputy leader, Sheikh Turi Mohammed, and the group’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa were among those killed later on Sunday.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Maj-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, had on Monday, while defending the army’s action, however, said El-Zakzaky was unhurt and that the sect leader and his wife were in protective custody.

Following the clash and the arrest of the sect’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, members of the group have staged protests in Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi States.

The protest had led to tension in Kaduna State on Tuesday with members of the sect clashing with police in the Tudun Wada area of the state capital, Kaduna.

Iranian protesters had also gathered in front of the Nigerian embassy in Tehran and in front of the United Nations office in Mashhad on Tuesday to protest killings of members of the group by the Nigerian army.

The FARS News Agency, an Iranian news agency, has accused global human rights bodies of keeping mum days after the clash and turning “a blind eye to the horrendous crimes committed by the Nigerian regime in the weekend”.

Source: Punch