Nigerian Shia community has said that soldiers shot and killed an unknown man on a property belonging to the community on Sunday evening.
Nigerian Shia community has said that soldiers shot and killed an unknown man on a property belonging to the community on Sunday evening.
The community leader, Ibrahim Musa, said in a statement the incident took place at Darur Rahma, a cemetery belonging to the Shia community in the outskirts of Zaria.
“Some soldiers went and shot point blank an unknown person, killing him instantly after tying his hands from behind. They went away leaving behind the corpse,” the statement read.
“Witnesses including villagers and members of the community guarding the cemetery, who saw the horrific scene scampered for safety as the soldiers opened fire at the man in cold blood. “
“It is not clear who the person is or what he did to them. Even much more unclear is why they chose to perform this gruesome murder in our property.” Musa said the army may have carried out the horrendous act in order to blackmail the Shia community with whom it has been having a running battle for some years now.
“We feel obliged to inform the public knowing well the mischief of the Nigerian Army in trying to paint the Shia community black in the eyes of the public especially in the last few days that they seem to redouble their efforts at soiling our name at all costs,” Musa said.
A picture of the victim was attached to the statement issued by Musa but it cannot be published because of its graphic nature.
