SECURITY was beefed up in major cities across the North, on Friday, following threats by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as the Shi’ite sect, to stage a mass demonstration over the detention of its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, had said on Thursday that the arrested Shi’ite leader was no longer in the custody of the Nigerian Army.
Buratai said, in Abuja, during a meeting with a delegation from the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), that El-Zakzaky had been handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
However, the planned protests did not materialise in most of the cities targeted for the action, where there were heavy presences of security operatives.
In Katsina, the Shi’ite followers had been called out in a statement by the sect’s leader in the state, Sheikh Yahaya Yaqub, but the demonstration, billed to start by 3.00 p.m., did not hold due to heavy security prensence.
In Kaduna, policemen were deployed in strategic places, just as a police helicopter hovered around trouble spots in areas like Tudun Wada, Tudun Nupawa, Rigasa, Unguwar Muazu and Kinkinau.
There was a similar security situation in Sokoto, where most places remained peaceful.
Earlier, the state police command, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, DSP Mustapha Sani, had announced the ban of any processions in any part of the state, especially the capital city.
In Zamfara, Kano and Jigiwa states, police and other security personnel were visible in strategic places.
In Zamfara State, for instance, the police had warned against staging any “illegal rally.”
A statement by the command’s spokesman, DSP Sanusi Amiru, had described any procession that was not permitted by the police as illegal.
In Kano and Jigawa, the planned protests also failed to hold as security was beefed up in the states, too. Commercial activities went on as banks and other businesses opened to customers.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that owners of properties destroyed in the clashes between military personnel and Shi’ite followers in Zaria will be compensated.
The governor, who said this in a special broadcast to the people of the state over the crisis, added that the event of last Saturday was unfortunate.
According to him, the government has to take responsibility for the protection of life and property.
To this end, el-Rufai announced the banning of illegal processions.
He said having inspected the scenes of destruction, the government intended to compensate anyone who had their house, shop or vehicle destroyed during the crisis.
He also said that the government had set up a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with a view to avoiding future occurrences.
El-Rufai disclosed that when he was briefed on the breach of the peace, he took measures, including contacting General Buratai and El-Zakzaky, to douse the situation.
While commiserating with the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris and the people of the Emirate, the governor said any institution or body that wanted to hold a procession must do so lawfully.

Tribuneonline…….

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