Over 100 Shiite Muslims were reportedly killed in the Zaria, Nigeria clashes on December 12.

There is an ongoing war of words, accusation and counter-accusations of blame following clashes between soldiers of the Nigerian army and members of the Muslim sect, Shiite, in Zaria, Kaduna State on Saturday, December 12 in which over 100 members of the sect were killed. The war of words concerns the party that instigated the clashes.

The Army is accusing the Shiite followers of attempting to assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. Army spokesperson, Sani Usman,  in a statement  said the  Shiite members barricaded the road Mr. Buratai’s motorcade was passing to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau, and also attend a review parade by 73 Regular Recruit Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria. “The sect numbering hundreds carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres,” Vanguard quoted Sani Usman as saying. He added that the Shiite members “refused all entreaties to disperse and then started firing and pelting the convoy with dangerous objects.”

The members of the Islamic movement said soldiers simply decided to attack “defenseless people.” The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) said at least 100 of its followers were killed by the army and its shrine demolished in Zaria. BBC also reported that the home of its leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, was also destroyed, and he was arrested.  The army said the sect carried out the attempt on Mr. Buratai’s life on the instructions of Ibrahim El-zakzaky, the leader of the Shiite group. In a swift counter-reaction, the El-zakzaky-led Shiite sect, reportedly said the Army spokesperson was lying.

Officials of the movement said its members who were unarmed were gathered for a ceremony at their Husainiyyah base, to change the flag on the dome of the building to herald the beginning of the month of Rabiul /Auwal- the birth month of the Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad.