Posted by ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna and Bashir Umar, Abuja on
The relative peace enjoyed by residents of Zaria following the Jos sectarian crisis was punctured on Tuesday with the attack on the revered Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, by an Islamic sect, the Shiite group led by Mallam Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
…Monarch's supporters burn group leader's house
The relative peace enjoyed by residents of Zaria following the Jos sectarian crisis was punctured on Tuesday with the attack on the revered Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris, by an Islamic sect, the Shiite group led by Mallam Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
According to an eye witness, the emir was on his way to Kaduna to attend the weekly security meeting when he bumped into an army of the Muslim group, who were said to have barricaded the road as they were marking the anniversary of the assassination of Hussein, one of the grandsons of Prophet Muhammad, which coincided with the 10th day of the new Islamic year.
Daily Sun gathered that all entreaties made to the group by the emir to see reason to allow him continue his journey met a brick wall as the group insisted that he emir must go back.
The emir's police orderly who attempted to ward the group off was beaten into a coma by the mob.
It was further learnt that the group began to haul stones at the emir's vehicle, a situation that forced the monarch and members of his entourage to beat a retreat and returned to his palace.
Upon reaching his palace, Daily Sun learnt, the emir's supporters who were said to be visibly angry by the treatment meted out to the traditional ruler, moved into the area, where some of the Shiites members lived and descended on the household of the deputy leader of the group and in the process, the house of the leader was razed.
As soon as the house was set ablaze, the Police was said to have quickly moved in to save the situation from degenerating. As at the time of filing this report, the situation was said to have been brought under control.
When contacted, police sources confirmed the story and said the police was already investigating the matter, even as one of them said it was not correct to say the emir was attacked.
According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, 'every year, you know this people do celebrate the 10th day of the new Islamic year. And you know they normally move in groups round the town and do their preaching.
'So they were in such mood when the emir ran into them and they refused to allow the emir pass. That cannot be said to be an attack because by attack, it means they went to his house or barricaded the road and carried out the action.'
On the house of the deputy leader of the group that was set ablaze, the police source said: 'We have confirmed that. We just received the report and we are investigating the matter.'