A Human Rights Commission in the UK, IHRC has approached the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year where the Nigerian Army allegedly committed a massacre of about 1,000 civilians of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria in

The filing which was submitted to the ICC on Monday accused the Nigerian Army of barbaric actions including rape, sexual violence, torture and religious cleansing attempt. In the filing submitted to the ICC on Monday 21st March, 2016. IHRC writes below:

“The crimes committed between the 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity.

The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor.” Information obtained by IHRC indicates that 217 people were confirmed killed in the attacks, another 219 are in detention, and 482 are still missing. The number of injured is believed to run into many hundreds. IHRC’s filing to the ICC is largely based on eye-witness evidence of the army’s assault.

The majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. Cases of people being burnt alive have also emerged. Injuries caused by machetes or other knife wounds have also been found on the corpses, and could be the work of the criminal groups that perpetrated acts of looting and mutilation alongside the military. Signs of torture and electrocution have been evidenced on the body of the IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and other detainees, two of whom died as a result thereof. Sexual violence has also been reported, including cases of rape against women affiliates of the IMN.

A 14-year old female witness told IHRC that the military shot her in her private parts when she resisted attempts by soldiers to rape her. Some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and others were deliberatelly shot in the pelvic region damaging their uteri. Photographic evidence has been obtained along with testimonies of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree.

Some corpses were allegedly incinerated, apparently in order to conceal any evidence. In its submission IHRC says that the evidence suggests that the army’s assault was a systematic and pre-planned attempt to snuff out the IMN whose growing popularity have made it a thorn in the side of Nigerian governments.

A similar army assault in July 2014 during a religious preocession led to the deaths of 34 IMN members including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky who were apparently singled out for execution. Eyewitnesses have reported that during December’s violence soldiers were seen celebrating and chanting slogans against the IMN, such as ‘we have finished with the Shia and Zakzaky’ and ‘no more Shias in Nigeria’. Although the IMN has support among Nigeria’s Sunnis and Shias it is often portrayed by its detractors as a Shia organisation.

During the violence soldiers used automatic weapons, explosives and armoured vehicles against unarmed civilians. This, along with the destruction of places of worship, graves and other buildings associated with the IMN, appears to support the contention that the attack was aimed at fatally damaging or eliminating the IMN.

Although the state government in Kaduna has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry IHRC believes it is insufficiently independent and impartial to be able to hold those responsible to account, nor is there any reasonable prospect of any prosecutions.

In his speech announcing the inquiry state governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai listed a range of grievances against the IMN, which is indicative of bias against the IMN from the start.

He was also responsible for demolishing IMN properties before setting up the commission of inquiry. IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said: “The scale and brutality of this massacre and unwillingess of the Nigerian government to implement due process makes it essential for the international court to investigate.

The faiure of the international community to act against atrocities on this scale stands to have grave consequences.”

http://www.thewhistleng.com/uk-rights-group-dra/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Buhari is doomed.

Long overdue

You don't go about murdering the citizens you swore by the constitution to protect. That's even an impeachable offense. Even if they attempted to kill the COAS, there are legal and constitutional means to go about it. This administration is no better than Idi Amin's junta

Already Ipob has filed to icc about the killing of unarmed protesters in the east .With this i think Buhari is in trouble

justice2016:
Already Ipob has filed to icc about the killing of unarmed protesters in the east .With this i think Buhari is in trouble

the tyrant doesn't care if he's in trouble, what pains me with this man is that his actions portray someone who doesn't give a damn if the country goes up in flames

talktimi:
You don't go about murdering the citizens you swore by the constitution to protect. That's even an impeachable offense. Even if they attempted to kill the COAS, there are legal and constitutional means to go about it. This administration is no better than Idi Amin's junta

Who will charge the killers of military officers in rivers state for death and human right violations. The will use their hand to withdraw the suit, that is if the story is true.

When a particular tribe that claims to be more educated than others chose an illiterate as a president
When you elect a sadist as president,what happens to the people.?
When you chose a leader who sees you as criminals, why won't you be wiped out?
Buhari keep killing the people you are to protect whether Shi'ites, Biafra or opc, the day you stop killing them then you will be killed.

[s]

amaechi1:


Who will charge the killers of military officers in rivers state for death and human right violations. The will use their hand to withdraw the suit, that is if the story is true.

[/s]

amaechi1:


Who will charge the killers of military officers in rivers state for death and human right violations. The will use their hand to withdraw the suit, that is if the story is true.

just pretend you didn't post this rubbish

Picture of IHRC dragging army to ICC or...
Somebody please help me complete the nairaland saying above.

ehen they have started can't people just stop calling buhari an illiterate please and please go and find out the meaning of illiterate cos obviously you dont. Buhari can read and write and he is a general so why calling him illiterate i dont understand. all those that are calling him illiterate what has your educated father achieved that buhari has not obviously there is none but anyway hate him as you must he is president of you and your whole kin but you wouldn't know that would you hatred has blinded you but its nothing new your people are quite popular for their hatred of anything that is not a part of them mofos

iyb:
ehen they have started can't people just stop calling buhari an illiterate please and please go and find out the meaning of illiterate cos obviously you dont. Buhari can read and write and he is a general so why calling him illiterate i dont understand. all those that are calling him illiterate what has your educated father achieved that buhari has not obviously there is none but anyway hate him as you must he is president of you and your whole kin but you wouldn't know that would you hatred has blinded you but its nothing new your people are quite popular for their hatred of anything thdat is not a part of them mofos

you think getting presidential power is all? You are not ok. The man achieve nothing educationally

chaloner:
you think getting presidential power is all? You are not ok. The man achieve nothing educationally

what have you achieved educationally

Believe me this will fall into deef ears. As another one may take place when.....