Press releases
Nigeria: killings of Shi'ites in Zaria must be urgently investigated
‘There is no doubt that there has been a substantial loss of life at the hands of the military’ - M.K. Ibrahim
The shooting of members of a Shi’ite religious group in the Nigerian city of Zaria in Kaduna state by the Nigerian army must be urgently investigated, said Amnesty International today, and anyone found responsible for unlawful killings must be brought to justice.
As well as the loss of life, security forces arrested many members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), including the leader of the group, Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was picked up at his residence on Sunday morning and remains in detention. It is unclear if he has access to a lawyer. Reports suggest that the dead and injured were taken to the military hospital and to the university teaching hospital.
Nigerian security forces have a history of carrying out unlawful killings and other human rights violations. In the course of security operations against Boko Haram, Nigerian military forces have committed serious human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity in north-east Nigeria.
Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director M.K. Ibrahim said:
“An impartial investigation is urgently needed into these killings.“Whilst the final death toll is unclear, there is no doubt that there has been a substantial loss of life at the hands of the military.“Anyone responsible for unlawful killings should be brought to justice. Those in detention must be granted access to medical care as a matter of urgency and either charged with a recognisable criminal offence or released.”