Zaria killings: Amnesty International Calls for probe

Violence broke out between military and followers of Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a religio-political organisation, reportedly backed by Iran, earlier this month leaving hundreds dead. The Nigerian military alleged that army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was the subject of an assassination attempt, according to the BBC. His statement did not explain how he got the information.

The clash came as the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, led a Federal Government delegation to Kaduna State over the crisis between the army and the sect.

AMNESTY International has demanded an investigation into allegations that the Nigerian army killed hundreds of people during a weekend raid on a mostly Shi’ite Muslim organisation.

The U.S. said it was “deeply concerned” over the clashes and called on Nigeria’s government to “quickly, credibly and transparently investigate” the events in Zaria.

“While the final death toll is unclear, there is no doubt of that there has been a substantial loss of life at the hands of the military”, said M.K. Ibrahim, Director of Amnesty International, Nigeria.

He has long campaigned for an Iranian-style Islamic revolution in Nigeria, and has found a ready audience for his message in a country long-plagued by corrupt and incompetent officialdom.

While there are inconsistencies in the various accounts the issue of excessive force and human rights abuses by the army raises its head again. It said scores of its members were killed, “centers destroyed and burnt to ashes” in subsequent raids.

Rouhani was said to have told President Buhari to ensure that “minor disputes must not be allowed to turn into deep differences”, IRNA reports.

The protest was part of a series of demonstrations staged Tuesday in various parts of northern Nigeria calling for the release of Zakzaky, who was detained following a military crackdown on his followers in the city of Zaria.

Iranian state TV said Rouhani said he expects the Nigerian government to compensate bereaved families and injured victims.

Nigeria’s military is infamous for its excesses.

Iranian officials signaled intent on Tuesday to intervene in Nigeria on behalf of the country’s Shiite Muslim population, Iran’s pro-regime Tasnim News Agency reported.

“A lot of observers are raising red flags over the similarities between the 2009 capture and execution of then Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf in police custody”, the intelligence group SBM writes.

The action of the military, Sani added, “is untenable, intolerable and unacceptable and has a serious repercussion to our global image, perception and moral standing”.

The violence has escalated over the past several days. Some 10,000 people have died in recent years there in attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist group.