Nigerian Shiites say soldiers have killed hundreds

The council further rued the indiscriminate loss of lives resulting from the clash stating that Islam as a religion values the sanctity of the human life.

The Islamic Movement claimed that over 500 of their members were killed by soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the number of casualties and the army declined to comment.

Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations said that some suspected members of a religious group attempted an attack on the convoy of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen.

“Mallam Muhammad Turi is reported killed in front of Sheikh Zakzaky’s residence in Gyellesu, Zaria, this morning”, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a senior journalist and resident in the north, said Sunday.

Musa said the victims of the fighting included his wife, son and the former IMN spokesman.

It is also opposed to the Sunni Muslim jihadist group, Boko Haram, which recently attacked its members.

In a statement, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs urged the authorities to exercise restraint.

The killings happened in Zaria, a town in northern Nigeria.

Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of the president, Garba Shehu were unsuccessful as he did not answer or return our calls.

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria condemned the silence of the government.

Before she was killed, Ibrahim had said hundreds of Zakzaky’s followers surrounded the house to protect the leader, whose whereabouts are not known. “We had no intention of doing anything as claimed by the soldiers”, sect leader Ibrahim Zakzaky said.

This is not the first time that the movement would clash with soldiers. Besides, the commission should also investigate the past incidents involving the movement so that justice can be done.

According to him, the Nigerian Army lied when it said members of the movement blocked the road and made an assassination attempt on Buratai. Aruwan confirmed that the governor, who appealed for calm, has spoken with the Shiites leader on phone and met with Buratai in Zaria on Sunday.

“We wish to state here that some of those earlier declared dead through various sources might not have been killed but might be severely injured and in need of assistance”, they said. The group said its members were unarmed and that soldiers attacked its members in three different parts of Kaduna including Zakzaky’s home.

Sa’ad Abubakar, the sultan of Sokoto, has warned the federal government not to allow the crisis between the military and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria go out of hand.

The members of the movement have had previous clashes with the military over the years. They were violent, definitely this is very clear, the clips are there.