Metro
Shiites mark 9th anniversary of Zaria massacre, demand justice
Nine years after the tragic massacre of hundreds of Shia Muslims in a violent clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) held a somber commemoration on Sunday in Kaduna State.
The event provided a platform for victims and their families to share their harrowing stories and renew the call for justice.
The 2015 massacre occurred during a Maulud celebration in Zaria when members of the IMN occupied a major highway leading to a deadly confrontation with the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd).
While the Army claimed it was responding to an assassination attempt, IMN members and human rights groups dismissed the accusation and labeled the incident as an unjustified attack aimed at eliminating the group.
During the commemoration, Mohammed Abubakar Abdullahi, the Chief Organiser, described the event as a painful reminder of the atrocities suffered by the IMN and appealed for public empathy.
READ ALSO: Shiites allege arrest of members, 3-month-old baby by police during birthday party
He expressed gratitude that IMN leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky survived the ordeal despite attempts by the army to wipe out the movement.
He said: “The Zaria massacre is not just a dark chapter in our history but a reflection of the impunity that prevails in our society.
“We gather to honor the victims and remind the world that justice delayed is justice denied.”
The Guest speaker, Nasir Hashim, a lecturer at Kaduna State University, condemned the absence of accountability in the country and urged the citizens to demand justice with the same vigour as they seek freedom.
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