Lt General Tukur Buratai: chief of army staff

The Nigerian army reported today that Chief of army staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai was attacked by Shiites in Zaria, Kaduna State.

It made the claim in a terse tweet, but other reports said that soldiers shot at the Shiites, who had blocked the road Buratai was passing through, in a convoy, killing no fewer than seven persons.

According to the Daily Trust today’s tragedy had roots in an incident ion Friday, the clash between members of Shi’ites and Darika sects .

According to the account, the clash occurred at Gatsari area of Zaria where the Shi’ites said they lost three members.

“Members of Shi’ites group today blocked Samaru-PZ road around 12:30 pm in order to protect themselves, according to the shi’ites spokesperson, Ibrahim Usman.

Sheikh Ibrahim Zak Zaky: leader of Sharia Shiites sect

“Today being the day for the Passing Out Parade at the army depot in Zaria which the chief of army staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai was expected to attend through the blocked Samaru-PZ road, some soldiers told the Shiites blocking the highway to leave. But they refused to budge.

“It was in the attempt to disperse them that today’s clash started.

“The army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman said it was an assassination attempt on the Chief of Army Staff.

Shiites attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff in Zaria

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) December 12, 2015