347 Shia buried in mass graves by Nigerian military, Kaduna state official confirms

The Kaduna State government announced on Monday that 347 Shiites were killed by Nigerian troops and buried in mass graves in December 2015. Secretary to the State Government Balarabe Lawal made the announcement during the Public Hearing of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings.

The Kaduna State government announced on Monday that 347 Shiites were killed by Nigerian troops and buried in mass graves in December 2015. Secretary to the State Government Balarabe Lawal made the announcement during the Public Hearing of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings.

Mr. Lawal’s testimony confirms many statements by both Human Rights Watch and the Islamic Movement of Nigerian (IMN) about the existence of a mass grave of Shiite Muslims killed by the Nigerian army.

The Zaria massacre, which took place between December 12th and 14th 2015, saw the Nigerian army rampage against unarmed Shiite civilians killing hundreds and covering up their act by digging mass graves. In addition to the mass graves, the Nigerian army also destroyed shrines, religious sites of importance to the Shiite community, and attacked the home of their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky