Soldiers Deployed to Strategic Spots in Kaduna

[Richard Akindele]

Armed soldiers and policemen have been drafted to strategic places in Kaduna State following yesterday's peaceful demonstration by thousands of fundamentalist (Shiite) Muslims against the bombing of Lebanon by Israeli security forces. The demonstration which started at the Maiduguri Road Mosque in Kaduna metropolis at about 8.30 am also took place in Zaria simultaneously.

A large crowd of the fundamentalists had gathered in the Mosque and carried a large portrait of their international spiritual head, Sheikh Ahmed Nasrallah before they marched through the streets denouncing the Israeli government.

They also distributed leaflets which condemned Israel for bombarding Lebanon consecutively for 10 days without stop. They claimed that their Nigerian leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky asked them to demonstrate against the Israelis and the United States government for the support of the former by the later.

In the leaflets written in Hausa language and entitled; "We support the people of Lebanon and Palestine", the Shiites accused Israel of killing innocent women and children in Lebanon as well as destroying the economy of the Islamic country.

The leaflets dated July 21, 2006 and signed by one Muh'd Mouktar read; "Thanks be to Almighty God (Allah), the destroyer of the infidels. Peace and blessing be upon Prophet Mohammed, the son of Abdullahi, including members of his family and the chosen ones.

"We have come out to demonstrate our support for the people of Lebanon and Palestine in relation to the dastardly acts committed by the Jews to our people.

"Today is the 10th day since the cursed people of the Jews have been pounding Lebanon, destroying houses, hospitals, high ways, industrial establishments and power installations as well as water system killing hundreds of people majority of them children and women. These dastardly acts have destroyed the economy of the country. We condemn such act in very strong terms.

"Also, the dastardly act committed by the Jews in Palestine whereby they use maximum military force with the support of the external forces... Always whenever they kill Moslems, you will not hear a word from the outside world.

"Israel has been supported by the America and his allies. Now, they have embarked on house-to-house search and kill, molesting men, women and children.

"They have stopped movement of vehicles; picking the corpses killed and preventing the injured from going to hospitals.

"In fact, they even stopped journalists entering the affected areas to report. They have even disregarded diplomatic approach to the face-off.

"This is surprising seeing how Western World has been supporting Israel and even some governments of Arab countries. Leaders of America and their allies are the ones supporting Israel openly without shame. George Bush, the President of America has said that Israel has rights to defend itself.

"Where is the United Nations which imposed sanction on Iraq? They allowed the destruction of Afghanistan and some Moslem towns. Where are the defenders of human rights? Where are the defenders of the children and women? To God be the glory, we in this country, our indefatigable leader of Islam, Shiek Ibraheem Zak-Zaky has called on all Moslems and those who pity humanity to come out enmasse to condemn the dastardly acts by Israel in Lebanon and Palestine.

"What God has promised must come to fulfillment. The territory being carved out as Israel must be wiped out. May God hasten their destruction in the world".

However, reacting to the development, the State Police Commissioner, Edgar Tamuno Nanakumo said that the "Procession" was peaceful. Nanakumo however said that the peaceful nature of the demonstration did not stop police from protecting them to ensure that innocent people were not harmed.

"The demonstration started at the Maiduguri Road Mosque and we followed them to Tudun Napawa area of Tudun Wada. The people of this state need peace and nothing should be done to turn the peace into something else. In Zaria it was the same thing because the procession was also peaceful" headed.

Vanguard.