CAN condemns FG over Zaria Shiite massacre...Visits Shiite leader

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Katsina, has condoled with leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Yaqub Zakzaky, over the killing of its followers in Zaria by the Nigerian Army.

The Christian group condemned Nigerian Government over the incident.

Recall that soldiers clashed with members of the group a few days ago, leaving almost a thousand of the Islamic Movement dead.

The incident occurred during the visit of Nigeria’s Army Chief, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to a military function at the Nigerian Military Depot.

Islamic Movement’s spokesman Musa said soldiers on Monday carried away about 200 bodies from around Zakzaky’s home in Zaria, and hundreds more corpses are in the mortuary. Human rights activists said hundreds upon hundreds, perhaps as many as 1,000, have been killed.

The military raids on Zakzaky’s home and spiritual centres in two other areas in Zaria began hours later.Chidi Odinkalu of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission called the attacks “a massacre.”

He posted photos on social media showing a bulldozer tearing apart a Shiite shrine and said Zakzaky’s home also was destroyed. Odinkalu told The Associated Press that Zakzaky suffered four bullet wounds and one of his relatives was killed in raids that began Saturday and ended Monday morning. He was quoting the family doctor.

Two of Zakzaky’s sons also were killed and one was wounded, according to Musa.Odinkalu and other human rights activists said there are hundreds of bodies at the mortuary of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital on the outskirts of Zaria.