The Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Sunday commemorated the 9th anniversary of the 2015 Zaria massacre, where hundreds of Shia Muslims were killed during a standoff with the Nigerian Army.
The army denied the killings although Amnesty International said there was a massacre.
The event was marked by tears and testimonies from victims and their families, who shared stories of socio-economic pains and struggles they’ve faced since the incident.
The commemoration, which took place in Kaduna, was attended by hundreds of IMN members, including women and children, who gathered to remember their loved ones who were killed during the clash between the IMN and the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
The IMN had occupied a major highway in Zaria for Maulud celebration when the clash occurred, resulting in the loss of many lives.
While the Army claimed that the Shi’ite Muslims had attempted to assassinate Buratai, the IMN and human rights organizations have disputed this claim, stating that the massacre was unjustified and that the Army’s actions were a deliberate attempt to wipe out the IMN.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Organizer, Mohammed Abubakar Abdullahi, said the essence of the commemoration was to draw sympathy from members of the public for the victims of the “Zaria massacre”.
He alleged that the intention of the Army was to wipe out the IMN, but thanked God that the group’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, was still alive.
Victims and their families shared their experiences and struggles since the incident.
One victim, Mustapha, who was shot and paralyzed during the massacre, said, “What security agencies did to us on that day was injustice because we were practising our religion without harming anybody.”
A female member, who lost her husband in the massacre, said, “Today I have no bread winner. I am struggling to fend for my children.”
The Guest Speaker, Nasir Hashim, a lecturer at Kaduna State University, lamented the lack of justice in Nigeria, stating that “leaders are benefitting from injustice” and that “people must seek justice” to prevent such incidents from happening again.
“Here in Nigeria we don’t have justice because leaders are benefitting from injustice. We must give justice to those who deserve justice. And justice cannot come on its own, people must seek justice. The same way you seek freedom, you have to seek justice.
“From the testimonies given by victims of the Zaria massacre, I almost shed tears, I was touched as if there is no humanity in this country. It shows that innocent people could be killed. The solution to any incident like that of the Zaria massacre is to give justice to all,” he said.
