NLC, TUC Urges FG To Probe Shi’ite, Military Clash

The NLC and TUC in different statements condemned the clash and called for immediate end to the violence and wastage of human lives.

In the statement signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the congress lamented that the violence between the Shiite and the Nigerian Army is getting addictive, frequent and avoidably bloody and wasteful.

Wabba said: “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.

“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.

“Labour 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.

“The TUC described it as very unfortunate, especially because it occurred at a time when the nation’s development is facing diverse challenges on virtually all fronts including the economy, security, employment indices, infrastructure and others,” NLC said.

The statement signed by the President of the TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, charged the law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties cautiously so as to avoid the loss of more lives.

“Nigerians desire to experience and hear less about killings by law enforcement agencies. This crisis is one too many.

“We advise the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the root causes of all the crises that have sprung up in different parts of the country before they get out of hand. The recent Zaria incident is not the first of its kind, but we want it to be the last,” they said.