Amnesty: There must be justice for the 347 Shi’ites ‘killed by military’

Amnesty International (AI) has urged the federal government to ensure justice is done over the “unlawful killings” of hundreds of Shi’ites in Kaduna two years ago.

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) clashed with the military between December 12 and December 14, 2015.

Speaking on Tuesday in commemoration of the two-year anniversary of the incident, AI regretted that “no one has been held accountable for the killings”.

In a statement, Osai Ojigho, AI director in Nigeria, said the reported deaths were as a result of an “excessive use of force” that must be “thoroughly” investigated.

“The Nigerian authorities’ failure to hold anyone to account for the killing of hundreds of women, men and children by soldiers in Zaria, shows the acceptance of a culture of impunity for violations for human rights in the country,” the statement read.

“The exact number of those killed is not known, but it may be higher than the official figure of 347. Hundreds of IMN supporters reported missing since the killings remain unaccounted for, feared dead.”

Ojigho said a full independent forensic investigation into the alleged massacre is “long overdue”, adding that many families still do not know the fate of their loved ones yet to be seen since the incident happened.

She said: “Nigeria’s attorney general and minister of justice should order that the bodies in the mass graves are exhumed, and that those suspected to be responsible for their deaths are prosecuted in fair trials without recourse to death penalty.”

AI also called for the release of Ibrahim Zakzaky, IMN leader, and his wife, who have been in detention since the incident, despite a court order for their release.

“The Nigerian government cannot continue to disregard this court order and should, as a matter of urgency, respect the rule of law by releasing them immediately.” Ojigho said.

In July 2016, the Kaduna state commission of inquiry, set up to investigate the killings, presented its report to the state government.

The report was said to have indicted the Nigerian military for unlawful killings.

But AI said the state government rejected “most of the commission’s recommendations”.