NLC condemns military/sheikh confrontation

By ANDREW OJIEZEL

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its concern over the military and Shiite confrontation even as it condemned the act and called for peace.

In a statement by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, NLC noted that it was alarmed by  outbreak of violence in Zaria between the Nigerian army and the Shiíte Islamic Movement of Nigeria, (MIN) led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.  The violence between MIN and the Nigerian Army is getting addictive, frequent and avoidably bloody and wasteful.

Stop addictive violence
For a country that has witnessed and still coping with senseless violence with attendant mass deaths especially in the North east, this is one additional violence most condemnable.

Sympathy
NLC commiserates with the families of lives lost during the Saturday December 12 Zaria crisis and called on the federal government to increasingly be proactive in responding to crises in the country. We therefore call on the authorities to take necessary measures to ensure this unnecessary conflict is brought to a permanent end.

Federal Government must be proactive
Wabba called on Federal Government to urgently investigate the root causes of frequent mutually destructive violence between MIN and Nigeria Army. “We recall that this is not the first time the movement had been involved in a clash with the military. In 2014, some members of the movement including the sons of Zakzaky reportedly lost their lives during similar clashes with the military. At a time Nigeria had lost several lives and properties through insurgency, we must guide against further killings and destruction of properties through avoidable conflicts. Violence worsens mass poverty and prevents prosperity and better life Nigeria and Nigerians have just voted for this year.”

Probe the violence
Similarly, NLC therefore supports the call by well-meaning Nigerians for a probe of the recent clash between the Movement and the Military with a view of unraveling the immediate and remote causes of the current mayhem and provide sustainable solutions.
“It was bad enough that any group of people allegedly blocked the road, restrict the movement, and allegedly threatened the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Tukur Buratai. But it was worse and clearly unacceptable that Nigeria Army would declare war of attrition against unarmed citizens. We must all work for the rule of laws, citizens and the security agencies alike. In a democracy! there is no room for extra-judicial behaviour and extra judicial killings whatsoever.”