Religion:2015 Zaria massacre
| 2015 Zaria massacre (Buhari Massacre) | |
|---|---|
  Zaria Location of Zaria in Nigeria | |
| Location | Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Coordinates | [ ⚑ ] : 11°04′N 7°42′E / 11.067°N 7.7°E |
| Date | 12–14 December 2015 |
| Target | Shia community, Islamic Movement of Nigeria |
| Deaths | At least 1000+ [1] |
| Perpetrators | Nigerian Army |
The Zaria massacre (also known as Buhari Massacre) was a massacre carried out by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, on Saturday, 12 December 2015, against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.[2][3][4][5] At least 1000 civilians were killed, with 347 bodies secretly buried by the army in a masse grave.[6]
The Army claimed that it had responded to an attempt to assassinate Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. This claim has been strongly rejected by the Islamic Movement and several human rights organizations who argue that the massacre occurred without any provocation and that all the protestors were unarmed.[2][7][8] The incident is considered among the "notable human rights violation since the return to democracy" in Nigeria.[9]
Incident
Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria carried out an assault against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, on 12 December 2015. The attack left at least 348 civilian killed and some others injured.[5] Ibrahim Zakzaky was injured in the incident and was captured along with his wife and hundreds of other members.[10]
Some of the injured bodies were burned alive, according to the Amnesty International report.[11]
According to the HRW report, Nigeria's government buried the bodies without family members' permission.[12][13]
Domestic and international reactions
Peaceful protests to condemn the killing of Shia Muslims in Nigeria by the Nigerian army were held in different cities of India, including Mumbai , Chennai, and Hyderabad.[14][15][16] Demonstrations were also held in Tehran and Mashhad in Iran.[17]
International
The United States expressed concern over the killings; stating, "While many details of the incidents...remain unclear, we are dismayed to learn of multiple civilian deaths". The US also called for the Government of Nigeria to "quickly, credibly and transparently investigate" the events.[18]
Investigation
In January 2016, the Kaduna State Government formed the Commission for Judicial Inquiry into the causes of clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army in December 2015, under the chairmanship of Justice Mohammed Garba, the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.[19][20]
Findings
On 1 August 2016, the commission of inquiry found the army gunned down 348 Shia Muslims and urged the prosecution of all those involved in the killings.[21]
See also
- Islamic Movement (Nigeria)
- Ibrahim Zakzaky
- Zaria Quds Day massacres
- Shia Islam in Nigeria
- Anti-Shi'ism
- 2015-2016 Killing of Biafran Protesters
References
- ↑ "Nigeria military killed hundreds of Shias, activists say". http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nigeria-shia-killing-1.3365587.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Nigerian Shiites Say Soldiers Have Killed Hundreds " ,VOA NEWS, 14 December 2015.
- ↑ "Military, Shiite Muslims clash in northern Nigeria" ,Yahoo News, 14 December 2015.
- ↑ "Nigerian military attacks Shia group over blocked road, killing some" ,CNN News, 15 December 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Nigerian Shiites Say Soldiers Have Killed Hundreds",abcnews, 15 December 2015.
- ↑ Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Clashes between the IMN and th NA in Zaria , July 2016.
- ↑ "Zaria Violent Clash: Army, Shiite sect trade blames" ,Vanguard Newspaper, 12 December 2015.
- ↑ "Zaria Massacre: Army had "predetermined mandate" to attack Shi'ites - Group - Premium Times Nigeria" (in en-GB). http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/195424-zaria-massacre-army-had-predetermined-mandate-to-attack-shiites-group.html.
- ↑ LeVan, A. Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018) (in en). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198804307. https://books.google.com/books?id=oLRwDwAAQBAJ&q=2015+zaria+massacre&pg=PA458. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ↑ John, Maszka (27 October 2017) (in en). Al-shabaab And Boko Haram: Guerrilla Insurgency Or Strategic Terrorism?. World Scientific. ISBN 9781786344007. https://books.google.com/books?id=iOk7DwAAQBAJ&q=2015+zaria+massacre&pg=PA146. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ↑ "NIGERIA: MILITARY COVER-UP OF MASS SLAUGHTER AT ZARIA EXPOSED". https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2016/04/nigeria-military-cover-up-of-mass-slaughter-at-zaria-exposed/.
- ↑ "Mass graves for '300 Shia Nigerians' in Zaria". 23 December 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35168211.
- ↑ Jones, Sam (21 April 2016). "Nigerian army killed 350 and secretly buried the bodies, Amnesty says". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/22/nigerian-army-killed-350-secretly-buried-bodies-amnesty-says.
- ↑ Ashish Tripathi (20 December 2015). "Shias in Lucknow want Indian govt to intervene in Nigerian crisis". The Times of India City. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Shias-in-Lucknow-want-Indian-govt-to-intervene-in-Nigerian-crisis/articleshow/50258848.cms.
- ↑ K. A. Dodhiya (18 December 2015). "Shias protest against killing in Nigeria". The Asian Age. http://dc.asianage.com/mumbai/shias-protest-against-killing-nigeria-532.
- ↑ Ashish Tripathi (21 December 2015). "Protest against the killings of Shia Muslims in Nigeria". The Siasat Daily, Hyderabad, India. http://www.siasat.com/news/protest-killings-shia-muslims-nigeria-889018/.
- ↑ "Iranians protest against killing of Shias in Nigeria". Real Iran. 17 December 2015. http://realiran.org/iranians-protest-against-killing-of-shias-in-nigeria/.
- ↑ "'Substantial Loss of Life': Nigeria's Army Accused of Massacre" (in en). https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zaria-massacre-u-s-joins-calls-investigation-deaths-kaduna-state-n480981.
- ↑ "Justice Garba heads inquiry over Army-Shiite killings". TheNEWS. January 16, 2016. http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/01/justice-garba-heads-inquiry-over-army-shiite-killings/.
- ↑ Staff reporter (17 January 2016). "Shiíte Killings: Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, other icons to lead inquiry". The Heraldng. http://www.theheraldng.com/shiite-killings-justice-mohammed-lawal-garba-others-to-lead-inquiry/.
- ↑ "Nigeria army killed 348 Shiites, commission of inquiry says". http://bigstory.ap.org/article/90629e0778f948849c20228fcbe5127a/report-nigeria-army-killed-348-shiites-1-soldier-killed.
External links
- of the Islamic Movement (Nigeria)
- Islamic Movement In Nigeria
- biography of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky Shia Cleric at Tripod.com
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