Nigerian Army Is Out Of Order, Digging Mass Graves- IHRC

Nigerian Army Is Out Of Order, Digging Mass Graves- IHRC

Fresh claims have been made, accusing the Nigerian army of gross misconduct in the bloodbath at Zaria over the weekend.

Nigerian Army Is Out Of Order, Digging Mass Graves- IHRC

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), an NGO in special consultative status with the economic and social council of the United Nations, has affirmed that the Nigerian Army has opened fire on peaceful demonstration in Kaduna.

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The IHRC have also affirmed claims that the existence of mass graves have been credible.

They report that the army has dug mass graves and are filling them up with bodies of victims of army actions over the weekend.

According to their official website, the NGO claims it has received reports that at around 1.30pm on Tuesday, December 15, thousands of protesters gathered in Kaduna to peacefully protest and demand the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Mu’allim Ibrahim el-Zakzaky and the many others currently illegally detained.

Their report further states that two protesters were killed, and 30 injured.

Massoud Shadjareh, chair of IHRC, said: “This proves without any shadow of a doubt that the Nigerian army is out of control, and has been given carte blanche to deal with certain groups.”

The bloodbath which was experienced in Zaria on Saturday, December 12, has stirred great controversy across the nation and in the international community.

First it was the argument of the rules of engagement, as many have questioned the objectivity and morality behind the attack launched by the army. The Shiites claim they were unarmed and peaceful, but the army said they attacked only after the protesters launched an assault on the chief of army staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

A second debate also ensued following claims that hundreds of Shiites were killed in the face-off at Zaria. While the Shiite sect insists that hundreds of bodies of its members were deposited at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, authorities at the hospital have said only 60 bodies were brought to the morgue.

Nusaiba Ibrahim Zakzaky, the daughter of Nigerian Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, in her interview granted to the Press TV, said she was told that maybe 450 were killed. She said her informants report though, that the death toll was rising and could probably get to about one thousand people.

The Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, received a call form his Iranian counterpart on Tuesday, December 15, over the brutal clash experienced in Kaduna. 

President Buhari was urged by Hassan Rouhani of Iran urged to act on the issue and "not allow a small matter degenerate into a bigger one.”

Investigations into the Zaria bloodbath is still on, and Nigerians can only pray that the issue does not grow beyond control.

Source: Legit.ng

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Khadijah Thabit (Copyeditor) Khadijah Thabit is an editor with over 3 years of experience editing and managing contents such as articles, blogs, newsletters and social leads. She has a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Khadijah joined Legit.ng in September 2020 as a copyeditor and proofreader for the Human Interest, Current Affairs, Business, Sports and PR desks. As a grammar police, she develops her skills by reading novels and dictionaries. Email: khadeeejathabit@gmail.com