Bodies of 350 Shias Found in Mass Grave in Nigeria
According to al-Alam news network, Muhammad Namadi Musa, an official in Nigeria’s Kaduna state revealed the news of the discovery.
On December 12 last year, Nigerian soldiers attacked Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in Zaria, Kaduna, accusing them of blocking the convoy of the army’s chief of staff and attempting to assassinate him. The Shias have categorically denied the allegations.
The following day, Nigerian forces also raided the home of Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky and arrested him after reportedly killing those attempting to protect him.
The two attacks led to the deaths of hundreds of members of the religious community, including three of Zakzaky’s sons. Human rights organizations have urged a full investigation into the deadly assaults.
Iran strongly denounced the Nigerian army raids and rallies were held in many Islamic countries including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Bahrain to condemn the attacks.
The IMN says it has lost some 730 of its members many others are still missing following the army attacks.
The Kaduna state government says it is holding a judicial inquiry into the events but there are doubts about fairness of the investigations.
