SaharaReporters can report that Nigerian troops might have killed at least 100 Shiites Muslim in different locations controlled by their leader Sheikh Ibrahim El- ZakyZaky in Zaria, Kaduna state.
A credible source in Zaria, who is involved collecting corpses in Gyallesu, Husainiyya Bakiyatullah and the Darur Rahma neighborhoods, told our reporters that.
The facilities the source said belong to the Shiites including Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky’s residence, which had been under siege since Saturday when a crisis broke out between sect members and Nigerian troops.
According to the source, 69 dead bodies of mostly men, women and young members of the sect killed in the ongoing military operation against the sect were officially recorded today.
He added that there were indications that, the dead toll will reach 100 after the ongoing search and rescue in areas military where the military launched an onslaught overnight.
He also explained that, aside the 69 corpses at hand, some relatives retrieved corpses of their relations for a separate funeral after they retrieved their remains from burn buildings in the area.
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Statement from Islamic Movement – Vanguard
“In the mean time, leading members of the Islamic Movement and other members as well, have been killed by the soldiers including the leader of the Kano Center, Sheikh Muhammad Turi, Dr. Mustapha Sa’eed, Malam Ibrahim Usman and Sister Jummai Gilima.
“Also killed were Sayyid Aliy, the son of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky; the wife of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, Malama Zeenat Ibraheem and tens of other members as more are being killed as at the time of this release.
“The sporadic killings took place at three locations that included the residence of the revered leader of the Movement at Gyallesu, the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA and the Darur Rahma located along Zaria-Jos road where many unarmed people were killed.
“The killing was so brutal at Gyallesu that even those injured in the shooting were identified and killed in cold blood by the soldiers. And as at the time of writing this press release, the victims are in their hundreds, if not thousands.
“Considering the gross violation of fundamental human rights and extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the Nigerian Army, the Islamic Movement hereby condemns these unjustifiable acts.
“We state categorically that the claim by the Army that members of the Movement attempted to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff was a blatant lie as the army came back to launch their attack more than an hour after the COAS had passed.
“Clearly, the Nigerian government through its military is now on rampage in an all out war with the Islamic movement, its members and structures. The scale of this attack would suggest it was meticulously planned by authorities and now being executed ruthlessly. The alleged attack on COAS Burutai was just an alibi.
“Therefore, with all pointers at the government as the contractor of the killings, we hereby call on well meaning Nigerians and the international community to intervene and seek redress for the victims and their family members as many innocent people have unjustifiably been killed and many others severely injured.
“In the mean time, there is no idea as to the where about of the leader of the Movement, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky nor his current condition, and aggrieved members of the Movement across the country have taken to the streets in protests”.
The killing of Turi, the leader of the Kano Center, has sparked tension in Kano, as members of the sect staged a rally from Saturday night till about 4am on Sunday. Another rally held on Sunday around Fagged Mosque, popularly known as ‘Waje Mosque’. According to a Kano resident, tens of thousands of Shi’ia members trooped to the nooks and crannies of Kano, passing through the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and raining expletives on the military personnel attached to Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff.
