TheCable

Leader of the Shi’a Islamic group, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky insists an apologetic telephone call from President Goodluck Jonathan would not stop him from seeking justice for his three sons and 31 other members of his movement killed in a clash with soldiers on July 25.

While members of the sect said they were on a peaceful procession as part of activities commemorating the annual Quds Day, military authorities said a Shi’a member first shot at soldiers and the soldiers only returned fire for fire.

The military also commiserated with families of the victims, “especially the leader of the group”, promising that no effort would be spared in ensuring justice on the matter.

But speaking on Monday in Zaria during a visit by chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Zakzaky said he rejected the president’s phone apology because apologies do not atone for murder.

“You don’t commit murder and say sorry. If that is the case, there is no need for legislation,” he said.

“Whenever one commits a crime, all he needs to do is to say sorry. Why do we have the police, courts and prisons? These murderers are known. I am not blaming the entire military, but I know the killers.

“They are individuals who answer names. I know their commander is a lieutenant-colonel who personally shot my children. He stamped on their bodies and stabbed them with knives. This is clearly a crime committed.

“My children were identified as my children before they were tortured to death. This is a crime. I can’t imagine how callous and cruel one can be to murder three children simply because he hates their father. They did nothing.”

He debunked insinuations that his movement was another potential Boko Haram, saying the intention of the military was to create disaffection between his movement and the public.

“This is why they are referring to us as ‘Shi’ite sect’. We are never a sect and will never be one. I personally do not recognise a sect. We have never called ourselves a sect; we have never been a sect and will never be. All my life, I never even recognised a sect,” he maintained.

“It has become obvious that the military has created a faceless and anonymous sect called Boko Haram. We have never seen a Boko Haram member or their schools, mosques or newspapers. All we hear of them are bomb blast and videos issuing threat of attack, promoted by the government as the only source of information.”

Odinkalu assured Zakzaky that NHRC would do everything possible to obtain legal redress for the killings.

“No parent wants to lose three children at a time. These children could be children of any parent,” he said.

“We will ensure justice is done without undue interference from any quarters, as vanguards of citizens in their demand for justice and fair play.”