Nigerian Army Unlawfully Killed Hundreds of Shias, AI Says
Amnesty's report relates to events in the northern city of Zaria where the army has claimed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) group in Nigeria tried to assassinate its chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, when members of the Shia group blocked his convoy.
The following day the army said it had raided several buildings connected to the group.
Amnesty said more than 350 people were believed to have been unlawfully killed by the military between December 12 and 14. Its report contains satellite images that it said appeared to show the location of a mass grave.
One witness, Yusuf, said soldiers set fire to a makeshift medical facility in the group's compound.
"Those who were badly injured and could not escape were burned alive," he said, adding that he believed tens of people died in this way.
Amnesty said it carried out research in February 2016 during which 92 people were interviewed, including victims and their relatives, eyewitnesses, lawyers and medical staff.
"It is clear that the military not only used unlawful and excessive force against men, women and children, unlawfully killing hundreds, but then made considerable efforts to try to cover-up these crimes," said Netsanet Belay, an Amnesty director. "Our research, based on witness testimonies and analysis of satellite images, has located one possible mass grave," he said, CBC News reported.
Last week Amnesty called for an investigation after a Kaduna state official told an inquiry into the clashes that the military secretly buried 347 people in mass graves. The inquiry has the power to impose fines and payment of compensation.
In January, the army chief of staff told the inquiry that his soldiers had "acted appropriately” in the raid. Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman claimed the Amnesty report lacked credibility.
"It is a hasty, one-sided and biased report aimed at arriving at a predetermined objective," he said. "They must allow the inquiry and all other relevant agencies to complete and submit their reports before jumping to conclusions," he added.
