Related Articles
“Security Forces fired live ammunition on mourners in Zaria after the closing prayer of Ashura Mourning Procession. Security forces opened fire on mourners on their way back to their various destinations. A baby boy was instantly killed with six others,” a member of IMN told SaharaReporters.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Photos and identities of a baby boy and six members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as ‘Shiites’ killed in Zaria, Kaduna state, during their annual “Ashura Day” procession – a religious ritual, have been revealed.
“Security Forces fired live ammunition on mourners in Zaria after the closing prayer of Ashura Mourning Procession. Security forces opened fire on mourners on their way back to their various destinations. A baby boy was instantly killed with six others,” a member of IMN told SaharaReporters.
The leader of the movement in Zaria, Mallam Abdulhamid Bello added that a combined team of security operatives attacked the IMN members while observing the religious procession.
According to him, the security personnel shot at the Shiites indiscriminately, resulting in the death of six people while scores sustained injuries.
Bello gave the names of those killed during the incident as Jafar Magaji Jushi, Kazeem Lawal Magume, Ali Lawal Samaru, Muhsin Badamasi Yakub Zakzaky, Umar Inuwa Anguwar Fatika and another member who he could not identify.
He said the total number of people killed and injured had yet to be ascertained, adding that “a lot of people have been rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, Wusasa while those in critical condition were taken to ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika also in Zaria”.
SaharaReporters on Monday that security forces attacked the Shiites during their peaceful annual Ashura Procession in Zaria Central Market, Kaduna State.
It was reported that at the time of filing the report, four persons had been killed.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on Monday, Bello said, “Many of our members were attacked during the attack, and at least four people have been confirmed dead.”
A human rights activist, Ali Musa also shared the information on his Twitter handle,
“Report of @elrufai genocidal security forces attacked #Ashura2022 Mourners after the peaceful annual Ashura Procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“@elrufai who buried 100s of Shias in secret mass graves is continuing his atrocities. @IntlCrimCourt @hrw @ihrc @amnesty @AP
Another Twitter user, Engr. A.M. Ikira confirmed the incident, writing, “Shiites again, I narrowly escaped their clash today at Zaria.”
https://twitter.com/Ali2musa/
status/1556579212449939456?t= rU1qJwPGZwk_VjD5fezL7A&s=08
https://mobile.twitter.com/
MIAbubakar/status/ 1556589163541151750
Also, from December 12 to 14, 2015, hundreds of Shia Muslim members were killed by Nigerian soldiers in a massacre condemned by local and international rights groups.
At least 348 civilians were reportedly killed, with 347 bodies allegedly secretly buried by the army in a mass grave.
The Kaduna State government in April 2016 said 347 corpses were given a mass burial at the Mando cemetery after what they claimed was a clash between soldiers and members of the Shiite sect in the state.
The Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, who said this when he appeared before a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, added that the corpses were given a mass burial in a grave on December 14, 2015, in a cemetery along Mando/ Zaria Road.
According to the SSG, a total of 191 unknown corpses were recovered from the Army Depot in Zaria and another batch of 156 corpses was recovered from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika.
No soldier or official was prosecuted for the mass murder.
The attacks were never condemned by the army hierarchy or Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.
After his initial silence, Buhari later said during a televised interview on December 30 that the victims invited the wrath of the military upon themselves by “hitting the chest of generals”.
