The Shiite Massacre – by Frank Ofili

Has Nigeria degenerated to such a level that even as the country is not officially in war time, some 347 of her citizens would be massacred and buried in mass graves? 

I had been struggling to believe the stories that had been making the rounds that hundreds of Shiite Muslims were killed by Nigerian troops and buried in mass graves in December last year. I never believed the stories until Balarabe Lawal, Secretary to Kaduna State Government, earlier this week made the same revelation during the Public Hearing of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killings. Lawal announced that 347 Shiites Muslims were killed by Nigerian soldiers and buried in mass graves in December 2015 

Whatever the outcome may be, I believe military personnel are trained on how to handle conflict with civilians. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry must ensure that justice is done, and be seen to be done.

347 Nigerian citizens killed in one fell swoop during a clash between soldiers and Shiite muslims! It is unbelievable! Even more unbelievable is the fact that these victims were secretly buried in mass graves. I do not know any country where this could happen in peace time. Have we degenerated to such level?

Nigeria is still officially in peace time regardless of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country. So how, and why, did this happen? The military authorities had previously said that the troops that carried out this heinous crime were acting in self-defense. According to them the Shiites protesters “refused all entreaties to disperse.” 

Still, this in my view, does not and cannot justify killing civilians in such dastardly manner. Were the Shiites protesters armed with mortar, grenade and other high-grade weapons as to be able to overwhelm the soldiers who carried out this act? Exactly what were they armed with to justify the killing in self-defense? Hopefully this and many more questions would be unraveled by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. 

Whatever the outcome may be, I believe military personnel are trained on how to handle conflict with civilians. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry must ensure that justice is done, and be seen to be done.