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2015 Zaria massacre

Coordinates: 11°04′N 7°42′E / 11.067°N 7.700°E / 11.067; 7.700
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2015 Zaria massacre
Zaria is located in Nigeria
Zaria
Zaria
Location of Zaria in Nigeria
LocationZaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Coordinates11°04′N 7°42′E / 11.067°N 7.700°E / 11.067; 7.700
Date12–14 December 2015 (2015-12-14)
TargetShia community, Islamic Movement of Nigeria
DeathsAt least 1000+ [1]
PerpetratorsNigerian Army

The Zaria massacre, also known as the 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 (IMN).[2][3][4][5] At least 1000 civilians were killed, with 347 bodies secretly buried by the Army in a mass grave.[6]

The Army claimed that it had responded to an attempt to assassinate Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, by the IMN. This claim has been strongly rejected by the IMN 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 violations since the return to democracy" in Nigeria.[9]

Incident

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The Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria carried out an assault against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the IMN, from 12 December to 14 December 2015. The attack left at least 348 civilians killed and some others injured.[5] Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the IMN, was injured in the incident and was captured along with his wife and hundreds of other members.[10]

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman claimed that, on 12 December, IMN members had attempted to assassinate General Tukur Burutai while he was driving through Zaria by blocking a stretch of road near their headquarters and throwing stones[2][5] alongside a petrol bomb[11] at his convoy. IMN members have denied this. Subsequent killings on 13 December around parts of Zakzaky's compound were covered up.[12][13]

Some of the injured within a makeshift hospital were burned alive, according to a report by Amnesty International.[12] According to a Human Rights Watch report, Nigeria's government buried the bodies without family members' permission.[13][14][15]

Reactions

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Peaceful protests condemning the killings were held in cities across India, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.[16][17][18] Demonstrations were also held in Tehran and Mashhad in Iran.[19]

International

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  • United States The United States of America 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.[20]

Investigation

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In January 2016, the Kaduna State Government formed the Commission for Judicial Inquiry into the causes of clashes in Zaria between the IMN and the Army in December 2015, under the chairmanship of Justice Mohammed Garba, the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.[21][22]

The IMN refused to provide evidence to the commission in protest of Zakzaky's continued imprisonment.[23]

Findings

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On 1 August 2016, the commission of inquiry came to the conclusion that Zakzaky should be held responsible, due to "refusing to call his members to order when required to do so."[6][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nigeria military killed hundreds of Shias, activists say". Archived from the original on 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c "Nigerian Army: Islamic Leader Zakzaky in Custody Following Raids". Voice of America. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Military, Shiite Muslims clash in northern Nigeria" Archived 2021-04-11 at the Wayback Machine,Yahoo News, 14 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Nigerian military attacks Shia group over blocked road, killing some" Archived 2021-04-11 at the Wayback Machine,CNN News, 15 December 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Faul, Michelle; Isenyo, Godwin (14 December 2015). "Nigerian Shiites Say Soldiers Have Killed Hundreds". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b Garba, Mohammed Lawal; Shehu, Salisu; Labdo, Umar; Abubakar, Salihu; Yadudu, Auwalu; Gambari, Ibrahim; Mshelbwala, A.A.; Gadzama, Afakriya; Maude, Aminun-Kano; Ibrahim, Jibrin; Gambo, Khadijah Hawaja; Bala, Bilya; Nsirim, Desire Diseye (1 August 2016). Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Clashes between the IMN and the NA in Zaria (PDF) (Report). Kaduna State Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Zaria Violent Clash: Army, Shiite sect trade blames" Archived 2020-09-11 at the Wayback Machine,Vanguard Newspaper, 12 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Zaria Massacre: Army had "predetermined mandate" to attack Shi'ites - Group - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  9. ^ LeVan, A. Carl; Ukata, Patrick (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198804307. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  10. ^ John, Maszka (27 October 2017). Al-shabaab And Boko Haram: Guerrilla Insurgency Or Strategic Terrorism?. World Scientific. ISBN 9781786344007. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  11. ^ Borger, Julian (16 December 2015). "Nigerian army killings of Shia Muslims to be investigated". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b "NIGERIA: MILITARY COVER-UP OF MASS SLAUGHTER AT ZARIA EXPOSED". 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Nigeria: Army Attack on Shia Unjustified; Independent, Impartial Probes Essential". Human Rights Watch. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  14. ^ Jones, Sam (21 April 2016). "Nigerian army killed 350 and secretly buried the bodies, Amnesty says". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Mass graves for '300 Shia Nigerians' in Zaria". BBC. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  16. ^ Ashish Tripathi (20 December 2015). "Shias in Lucknow want Indian govt to intervene in Nigerian crisis". The Times of India City. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  17. ^ K. A. Dodhiya (December 18, 2015). "Shias protest against killing in Nigeria". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  18. ^ Ashish Tripathi (21 December 2015). "Protest against the killings of Shia Muslims in Nigeria". The Siasat Daily, Hyderabad, India. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Iranians protest against killing of Shias in Nigeria". Real Iran. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  20. ^ "'Substantial Loss of Life': Nigeria's Army Accused of Massacre". NBC News. 16 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  21. ^ "Justice Garba heads inquiry over Army-Shiite killings". TheNEWS. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  22. ^ Staff (17 January 2016). "Shiíte Killings: Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, other icons to lead inquiry". The Herald. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Nigeria army killed 348 Shiites, commission of inquiry says". Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
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