By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Kaduna—A victim of the 2015 bloody clash between the Shiites and soldiers, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Malam Mustapha, who claimed to have been shot by security operatives during the violent encounter, said he is now paralysed.

“Today I am paralyzed, moving on a wheelchair. My father and two of my brothers were killed. Just imagine my situation,” he said.

Mustapha spoke as widows, daughters and other female relatives of Shiite members who allegedly lost their lives during the clash narrated their ordeals to journalists, saying “Often times we go to bed hungry following the killing of our husbands and other bread winners in the bloody clash on that fateful day.”

The distraught females and other members of the Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) , spoke as they marked 9th annual commemoration of the alleged killing of their loved ones in Zaria on December 12, 2015.

Recall that the IMN members, also known as Shiites had clashed with the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, as members of the Muslim sect who had occupied a major highway in Zaria for Maulud celebration, allegedly attacked the soldiers clearing the way for the Army boss.

Many persons reportedly lost their lives in the clash between the soldiers attached to Buratai’s convoy and the Shiite Muslim sect.

While commemorating the annual event, a group, Hurras of the Islamic Movement, Kaduna State chapter, alleged that the intention of the Army was to wipe out the IMN from existing.

Chief Organiser of the annual occasion, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the essence of the event was to draw sympathy from members of the public for the victims of what he described as, ‘Zaria massacre’, which was to be observed in December 2024, but shifted to this January because of unforeseen circumstances.”

“The event is about the commemoration of the 2015 Zaria massacre. Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were celebrating the maulud, the birth of Prophet Mohammed when we heard that our brothers were attacked in Zaria by the Nigerian military.”

“So every year we commemorate the incident at least to draw or have mercy and sympathy from the masses of Nigeria because the intention of the military was to wipe out the entire IMN but by the Will of Allah we are still alive and our leader too is still alive. We thank Allah for that. This is the reason for this event to commemorate the Zaria massacre.”

According Mustapha, a victim , “I was shot by security operative during the massacre. Today I am paralyzed, moving on a wheelchair. My father and two of my brothers were killed. Just imagine my situation.What security agencies did to us on that day was injustice because we were practising our religion without harming anybody. I am happy that an even alive today.”

A female member who craved anonymity said: “My husband was killed by soldiers on that fateful day for no just cause. Today I have no bread winner. I am struggling to fend for my children.”
According to the guest speaker of the occasion, a lecturer with Kaduna State University (KASU), Nasir Hashim , “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 Zaria massacre is to give justice to all. We should allow justice to reign to prevepnt any violence. 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,” he