…As NGO issues Army 72 hours’ ultimatum to respond.

by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Following the alleged brutal killing of one Ibrahim Muhammad and life-threatening injuries inflicted on Fadila Ahmad and Ahmad Ibrahim, who were said to be 17 years old minors in Rafin Guza, by the Nigerian Army, Kaduna community has threatened a reprisal.

A document bearing Chief Executive Officer, Bala Muktar Muhammad, obtained by newsmen, an NGO, ‘My Body My Rights and Charity Initiative,’ which noted that retaliatory options could be a last resort to people that are ignorant of the law, has also issued an ultimatum of 72 hours to Nigerian Army to respond to the allegations.

The NGO, in a petition, explained that, “On the fateful day of the incident, the street where the incident occurred, around 2:30pm, was characterised by serious congestion, owing to a wedding ceremony taking place.”

According to the NGO, “The Street is so narrow and not up to 10 feet (wide), which made it a bit inconveniencing for motorists to pass through. While the wedding was going on, a dark Hilux vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Army with plate number boldly written (NDA), containing five people in mufti (two old women sitting at the back and three men, respectively) came to pass.

“That misunderstanding ensued between the men in the vehicle and one Keke-Napep rider due to the narrow, busy road, because of the wedding ceremony taking place, and that the Nigerian Army vehicle was brushed by the Keke-Napep rider in the process.

“That the driver conveying the said officers in the vehicle came down from the vehicle and slapped the Keke-Napep rider, resultant of which some of his friends who were there retaliated by slapping the driver, too (the army officer in mufti).

“That before leaving the scene of the incident, the officers in the vehicle said that the crime will not go unpunished, and that families of the couple must dearly pay for what was meted upon the officer, even though they knew next to nothing about who the Keke-Napep rider was and where he came from, as he was uninvited but was only passing just as the Army Hilux van.

“That the same Army officer averred in strong terms that they will return any moment to deal decisively with the ‘bloody civilians’ as reported according to the eyewitnesses,” it stated.

While expressing displeasure over the allegation, the NGO averred that it will collaborate with sister NGOs and Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Serap, Human Rights Networks and other reputable media outlets to ensure justice and rule of law is served.

The document, which was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, Bala Muktar Muhammad, further explained that the community of Rafin Guza and other communities across Kaduna State are very angry over the action of men of the Nigerian Army against the said innocent citizens.

Muhammad, however, urged the Nigerian Army to take sincere measures to cushion the effect of the murder on the people of Kaduna State and the bereaving families.

The document also stated that, the duo of Fadila Ahmad and Ahmad Ibrahim, who were at the community for the wedding, sustained serious injuries through gunshots by men of the Nigerian Army and were unconsciously admitted at the 44 Reference Hospital.

No official statement has been issued by the army of police on the incident at the time of filing this report in Kaduna.