The Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Zaria, Professor Lawal Khalid, on Tuesday confirmed the receipt of 61 corpses from the weekend’s violent clashes in the area.
He made the confirmation on Tuesday, at a time that soldiers armed with sophisticated weapons had barricaded the road leading into Zaria, searching motorists and commuters to ensure that Shiites did not infiltrate the city.
The soldiers who mounted a check point at Dogarawa village, a few kilometres away from Zaria, were seen thoroughly screening motorists.
The activity of the soldiers began to take a heavy toll on motorists and commuters traveling the road as early as 6am. Many of them described the situation as tedious and unpleasant.
The situation was harder even for pedestrians around the area where the residence of the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, is located, as security had been considerably tightened.