A former Army general in Nigeria said his death sentence following riots more than 30 years ago was the result of Muslim military leaders controlling a sham tribunal.
Maj.-Gen. Zamani Lekwot, a Christian, spoke at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja on Nov. 5 for the release of his book, “Judicial Terrorism,” saying he was sentenced to death even when courts had declared his conviction fraudulent. He and other Christians leaders subject to “judicial terrorism” were later freed thanks to divine providence, he said.
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Lekwot said the roots of the 1992 conflict between Christians and Muslims in southern Kaduna state began on Feb. 6 of that year, when rioting erupted in a market in Zangon Kataf County, causing six deaths and property destruction. The government set up a commission of inquiry.
The commission’s report had yet to be released when an Islamic group in Zangon Kataf town petitioned then-Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Ibrahim Dansuki to do something about the Muslims who had died in the market riot, with the aim of forestalling jihadist violence rooted in the belief that a Muslim who kills or dies in jihad goes to heaven, Lekwot said.
Copies of the petition were sent to the Kaduna governor, the emir of Zaria, other emirs in northern states and security agencies, he said.
“However, suddenly on Friday, 15th May 1992, I was told the authors of the petition attacked Afabwang village, the closest atyap [traditional chiefdom of the Atyap people] village to them and caused mayhem,” Lekwot said. “The news spread like wildfire, and the whole community became emotionally charged, culminating in the clash which caused loss of lives and property on both sides.”
Instead of ordering an investigation to establish the facts, 61 people including tribal chiefs, senior pastors and other prominent citizens were arrested and thrown into prison on the orders of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, head of the military junta. The orders followed the surprise visit on May 26, 1992 of Babangida, whom Lekwot referred to by the name of the presidential palace site, Aso Rock Abuja, “when he wept and declared those responsible for the destruction guilty,” Lekwot said. “That was the narrative that culminated in the atyap’s persecution by Aso Rock. No Hausa/Fulani man, who started it all, was arrested.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
