The United States Government has frowned at the Federal Government of Nigeria for not punishing soldiers implicated in the December 2015 killing of over 300 Shiites in Zaria, Kaduna.
This was made known in the report of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour for 2017 released on Wednesday.
The report queried why a court judgment ordering the release of and award of N25 million to leader of the Shiites, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has also not been complied with.
The report stated that “human rights groups continued to report the Federal Government often failed to prevent, quell, or respond to violence affecting religious groups, particularly in the north eastern and central regions of the country.
“In November, Kano State police fired tear gas and bullets, killing three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria during its annual Ashura procession.
“The government continued to detain the leader of the IMN, the country’s largest Shia group, and restrict the activities, free movement, and free association of its members.
“There were no reports of accountability for soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the army and IMN members that, according to a Kaduna State government report and reports from non-government observers, left at least 348 IMN members and one soldier dead, with IMN members buried in a mass grave.
“The government stated publicly that Sheikh El-Zakzaky, leader of the IMN and a prominent Shia cleric, would remain in what it said was ‘protective custody’ pending the appeal of the December 2016 decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the government must release him.
“At year’s end, El-Zakzaky remained in prison. The court also ruled that the government must provide him with a house and pay him and his wife restitution of N25m ($69,600) by January 15; at year’s end, the court’s order had yet to be followed.”