The Kaduna State government yesterday announced the composition of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the December 12-14 clashes between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army in Zaria. The government in a statement through the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Samuel Aruwan, named Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba as chairman of the 14-man commission.

Justice Garba is the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal. Other members of the commission include; Prof. Salihu Shehu, Prof. Umar Labdo, Malam Salihu Abubakar, Malam Abubakar and Prof. Auwalu Yadudu. The others are; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Mr. Afakriya Brigadier-General Aminun-Kano Maude (rtd) Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Mrs. Khadijah Hawaja Gambo, Mr. Bilya Bala, Major-General Alexander Anjili Mshelbwala, Mrs. Desire Deseye Nsirim CP (Rtd.) and Dr. Bala Babaji, who is to serve as the Secretary to the Commission. The state government said the commission was established under Section 2 of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry Law, 1991 and would be inaugurated this week. It is expected to submit its final report six weeks after its first public sitting. "Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, has signed the instrument establishing the commission of inquiry. The inquiry, which is expected to submit its final report six weeks after its first public sitting, has several terms of inquiry. "These include to determine the immediate causes of the clashes, examine the historical circumstances and contributory factors of the clashes and to ascertain the number of persons killed, wounded or missing during the clashes. The commission of inquiry will also identify the actions of persons, institutions, federal and state actors, and determine whether such actions were necessary, appropriate and sufficient in the circumstances in which they occurred," he statement said. The government said it had not folded its arms since the incident but had been acting to ensure that the sites of the clashes did not constitute sources of public peril after the army withdraws. "Since the unfortunate incident, the Kaduna State government has been discharging its obligations to promote the public welfare. There was no reason at any point to put governance in abeyance or to abdicate the responsibility of the government to enforce the law and uphold security. Neither was it necessary for the state government to speak and act as if it was not in possession of any facts relevant to the matter", the statement added.