The Zaria massacre was a massacre carried out by the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria on Saturday, 12 December 2015, against Shia Muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. At least 348 civilians were killed, with 347 bodies secretly buried by the army in a masse grave.
The Army claimed that it had responded to an attempt to assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. This claim has been strongly rejected by the Islamic Movement and several human rights organizations who argue that the massacre occurred without any provocation and that all the protestors were unarmed. The incident is considered among the “notable human rights violation since the return to democracy” in Nigeria.
Incident
Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria carried out an assault against Shia muslims, mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, on 12 December 2015. The attack left at least 348 civilian killed and some others injured. Ibrahim Zakzaky was injured in the incident and was captured along with his wife and hundreds of other members.
Some of the injured bodies were burned alive, according to the Amnesty International report.
According to the HRW report, Nigera’s government buried the bodies without family members’ permission.
Domestic and international reactions
Peaceful protests to condemn the killing of Shia Muslims in Nigeria by the Nigerian army were held in different cities of India, including Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad. Demonstrations were also held in Tehran and Mashhad in Iran.
Investigation
In January 2016, the Kaduna State Government formed the Commission for Judicial Inquiry into the causes of clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army in December 2015, under the chairmanship of Justice Mohammed Garba, the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal.
Findings
On 1 August 2016, the commission of inquiry found the army gunned down 348 Muslims and urged the prosecution of all those involved in the killings.
List of Martyrs
- Martyr Hammad Ibraheem Zakzaky
- Martyr Ali Haydar Ibraheem Zakzaky
- Martyr Humaid Ibraheem Zakzaky
- Martyr Ali Zainul Abideen Mustapha
- Martyr Muhammad Mahmud Turi (Ameer), Kano
- Martyr Mukhtar Sahabi (Ameer), Kaduna
- Martyr Muhammad Lawal Nasidi (Ameer), Potiskum
- Martyr (Dr.) Mustapha Sa’eed
- Martyr Kabeer Alkanawy
- Martyr Zuhair Abubakar Maina
- Martyr Sumayya Isa Hassan
- Martyr Muhammad Rabiu
- Martyr Fatima Ahmad Gashuwa
- Martyr Muhammad Mu’azu Zaria
- Shaheed Ali Mu’azu Zaria
- Martyr Nusaiba Yaqub
- Martyr Shafiu Al-Hassan Kazaure
- Martyr Nusaiba Shafiu Al-Hassan Kazaure
- Mahmmad Bello Lukman Zaria
- Martyr Fauzia Shehu
- Martyr Abubakar Musa Birnin Yero
- Idris Usman Sabongari Zaria
- Muhammad Sani
- Martyr Aliyu Muhammad Ahmad
- Martyr Hussain Aminu
- Martyr Bashir Adam
- Muhammad Waziri Isa Samaru Zaria
- Hassan Waziri Isa Samaru Zaria
- Hussaini Waziri Isa Samaru Zaria
- Fatima Waziri Isa Samaru Zaria
- Martyr Maimuna Shehu
- Martyr Fatima Muhammad Lawal
- Muntaka Sani Haruna Samaru-Zaria
- Martyr Fatima Ali Muhammad
- Muhammad Auwal Tandari Potiskum
- Martyr Yakubu O. Muhammad
- Martyr Ahmad Yakubu O. Muhammad
- Martyr Khadija Yakubu O. Muhammad
- Martyr Fatima Yakubu O. Muhammad
- Babawuro Baffa Nafada Gombe
- Babawuro Baffa Abubakar Nafada Gombe
- Tijjani Muhammad Jigawa Gagiya Guri
- Tijjani Muhammad Gagiya Malam Madori
- Shu’aibu Kofar Fada Jigawa Malam Madori
- Muhammad Usman Jigawa Malam Madori
- Shu’aibu Dauda Jigawa Malam Madori
- Sawwanu S. Hamza Malam Madori
- Khalid Abdullahi Jigawa Malam Madori
- Awwal Abubakar Guyu Malam Madori
- Salihu Muhammad Uganda Potiskum
- Muhammad Salihu Sakafa Potiskum
- Usman Garba Sakafa Potiskum
- Al-amin Abbas Sharif Potiskum
- Muhammad Isa Adamu Potiskum
- Muhammad Maini Abdullahi Potiskum
- Bello Isma’il (Abban Yaya) Potiskum
- Isa Sa’idu M/Bukar Street Potiskum
- Muhammad Isma’il Jigawa Potiskum
- Zakari Abdullahi Potiskum
- Musa Abdullahi Potiskum
- Abdullahi Hassan Potiskum
- Umar Isyaku Potiskum Mamudo
- Bello Sama’ila Abdullahi Potiskum
- Anas Yakubu
- Abdu Adamu
- Musaddad Abubakar Gwenty
- Mahdi Abubakar
- Alhaji Muhmmad Sani Abubakar Udawa
- Abubakar Hakika Udawa
- Aliyu Abubakar Birnin Gwari
- Sa’idu Abdullahi Udawa
- Abdullahi Shu’aibu Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Bello Umar Maimagani Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Zakariya Dan Marka Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Mu’azu Alarama Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Usman Musa Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Abdulrashid Yusuf Escort Zaria
- Saifullahi Kabir Mai Nama Zaria
- Basiru Sani Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Saifulddeen Umar Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Abubakar Kasim Danlami (Alfa) Zaria
- Anas Dahiru Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Hassan Dahiru Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Zaharaddeen Ibrahim Zaria Tudun Jukun
- Rabi Maman Kubra
- Muntaka Sabi’u Zangon Aya
- Iliyasu Muhammad Rabi’u Talatan Mafara
- Aliyu Muhammad Rabi’u Talatan Mafara
- Jungudo Umar
- Usman Garba (Lamma) Potiskum
- Mahdi Isma’il Potiskum
- Tijani Muhammad Potiskum
- Bukhari Bello Jega University of Abuja
- A’isha Abubakar Zaki Gwagwalada
- Nusaiba Abubakar Zaki Gwagwalada
- Fatima Abubakar Zaki Gwagwalada
- Batula Buhari Bello Jega Gwagwalada
- Abdullahi Musa Sabati
- Ibrahim A. Danladi (Malam) Samaru
- Ahmad Buhari Isma’il Zaria City
- Muhammad Nasir Adam Samaru Zaria
- Muhammad Taha Abubakar Samaru
- Mahdi Idris Umar Samaru Zaria
- Abubakar Abdullahi Samaru Zaria
- Shehu Yahaya Samaru Zaria
- Umar Dauda Samaru Zaria
- Zaharadeen Isa Samaru Zaria
- Sirajo Ibrahim Samaru Zaria
- Muhammad Mujahid Abdullahi Zaria
- Yusha’u Nuhu Samaru Zaria
- Muhammad Abubakar Audi Samaru
- Yusha’u Muhammad Samaru Zaria
- Mujahid Awwal Samaru Zaria
- Umar Abdulllahi Samaru Zaria
- Muhammad Abubakar Samaru Zaria
- Muhammad Kabir Mansir Samaru Zaria
- Abba Iliyasu Hayin Dogo Samaru Zaria
- Usman Mukhtar Samaru Zaria
- Mustapha Ibrahim Panhauya Zaria
- Ibrahim Suleiman Panhauya
- Mubarak Bala Zaria
- Sulaiman Ahmad Zaria
- Sani Abubakar Zaria
- Usman Abdullahi Kankia Zaria
- Hamza Isa Zaria Hayin Ojo
- Badamasi Abdulhamid Zaria Danmagaji
- Ibrahim Ali (Maiwashi) Zaria Hayin
- Abubakar Muhammad (Nera) Zaria
- Hudu Muhammad (Gambo) Zaria
- Sagir Muhammad Awwal Zaria
- Jibrin Abdulaziz Zaria
- Umar Alhassan Zaria Zabi
- Rabi’u Mahmoud Zaria Zabi
- Isa Sa’idu Muhammad Zaria
- Madi Alhaji Rabi’u Zaria
- Zaharadeen Abdulaziz Zaria
- Aliyu M. Lawan Zaria
- Musa Sakkwato Makina Zaria
- Umar Ibrahim Zaria
- Mahdi Alhaji Garba Zaria
- Gambo Muhammad Zaria
- Nasiru Ayuba Zaria
- Tanimu Sulaiman Zaria
- Ali Yusuf Zaria Hayin Ojo
- Abubakar Musa Zaria
- Hashimu Abdullahi Tohu Zaria
- Adamu Yakubu Tohu
- Bashir Aliyu Tohu
- Sulaiman Abdullahi Zaria
- Ishaka Abdulkadir Zaria
- Abdulmutalib Yusuf Zaria
- Bashir Sa’idu Zaria
- Rashidu Sa’idu Zaria
- Shema’u Muhammad Zaria
- Abdullahi Abubakar Gado Zaria
- Ali Mu’azu Zaria Unguwar Jaba
- Muhammad Mu’azu Zaria
- Awwal Nasibi Zaria Muchiya
- Shehu Mai Ruwa Zaria
- Ibrahim Muhammad Tukur Zaria
- Mubarak Yakubu Zaria Magume
- Fatima Lawal Zaria Magume
- Ali Umar Zaria Magume
- Muhammad Murtala (Bichi) Zaria
- Abdulkarim Dambam Gyellesu
- Mukhtar Sahabi (Dankwarai) Gyellesu
- Nuhu Yunusa (Digging) Gyellesu
- Abdulkadir (Escort) Gyellesu
- Sayyid Hammad Zaria Gyellesu
- Sayyid Ali Zaria Gyellesu
- Sayyid Hummaid Zaria Gyellesu
- Hajiya Fatima (Gogo Binta) Gyellesu
- Muhammad Abdullahi Zaria
- Ali Lawal Zaria Magume
- Hamza Abubakar Ingaski Yawuri
- Shamsuddeen Abdulkadir Gyellesu
- Nuhu Rahama Zaria Gyellesu
- Basiru Rahama Zaria Gyellesu
- Ali Zainul Abideen Mustapha Gyellesu
- Zuhair Abubakar Maina Gyellesu
- Anas Lagawu Zaria Gyellesu
- Ishaq (Guest House) Zaria Gyellesu
- Usman Yawuri Zaria Gyellesu
- Iliyasu Fudiya Zaria
- Awwal Abdullahi Zaria
- Usman Dawa Zaria Chikaji Sabongari
- Maikudi Galadima Zaria Muchiya
- Isa Sulaiman Tabansani
- Rabi’u Dantarau Tabansani
- Hudu Muhammad Zaria Muchiya
- Biliya Nakowa Zaria Sabongari
- Awwal Yusuf Zaria Sabongari
- Muhammad Uncle Zaria
- Sulaiman Maiblo Zaria
- Rabi’u Abdulrahman Zaria
- Naziru Usman Zamfara
- Fatima Aminu Maihoto Zaria
- Muhammad (Uncle) Zaria
- Muhammad Sani Abubakar Dakwa
- Jamila Jibo Jibrin Kwangila
- Saminu Yusuf Kwangila
- Maikudi Kwangila
- Bashari Isa Kanar Farakwai
- Yahaya Yakub Kanar Farakwai
- Muhsin Shitu Danja
- Jawad Nuradeen Danja
- Alkasim Garba Igabi
- Aliyu Sulaiman Pambeguwa
- Ayatollah Salihu Pambeguwa
- Abdulrashid Awwal Pambeguwa
- Salisu Hassan Kidandan
- Dauda Hassan Rimi/Iyatawa
- Abdulrzak Rimi/Iyatawa
- Abdulkadir Damari
- Adamu Ali Damari
- Abubakar Ahmad Damari
- Ali Umar Jaji
- Ishaq Umar Jaji
- Salisu Umar Jaji
- Hamisu Muhammad Jaji
- Saminu Jaji
- Basiru Salisu Jaji
- Aminu Yunusa Zaria Wanka
- Abdullahi M. Yunusa Zaria Wanka
- Nura Nuhu Zaria Wanka
- Abdullahi A. Adamu Zaria Wanka
- Yahaya A. Sani Zaria Wanka
- Ali Abdulmumini Zaria Wanka
- Rukayya Nuhu Zaria Wanka
- Mal. Dahiru Zaria Wanka
- Isiya Kinkiba Zaria Wanka
- Salihu Badaru Zaria Marwa
- Abdulkarim Bello Zaria Marwa
- Dahiru Alaramma Zaria Marwa
- Hamisu Abubakar Yakasai
- Muhammad Jawad Yakasai
- Rabi’u Adam Yakasai
- Yusuf Adam Yakasai
- Zainulabideen Abubakar Yakasai
- Mashhad Zubair Yakasai
- Aliyu Zaki Yakasai
- Ibrahim Uwais Yakasai
- Bashir Sa’ad Yakasai
- Mukhtar Sabi’u Lambar Zango
- Karubullah Mustapha Lambar Zango
- Abba Sabitu Lambar Zango
- Salisu Lambar Zango
- Bashar Dandami
- Isiya Dandami
- Ja’afar Dandami
- Nura Dauda Richifa
- Sulaiman NEPA Richifa
- Sulaiman Muhammad Richifa
- Usman Aliyu Richifa
- Ahmad Mohammad Richifa
- Zuwaira Muhammad Richifa
- Nura Alh. Dauda Richifa
- Ibrahim Dauda Richifa
- Munkaila Yusuf Richifa
- Sha’ibu Bako Richifa
- Rabi’u Muhammad Sani Richifa
- Gambo Yusufi Richifa
- Adamu Alhassan Richifa
- Abdullahi Ibrahim Richifa
- Abubakar Jibrin Richifa
- Adamu Aliyu Richifa
- Shamsu Shu’aibu Richifa
- Adamu Aliyu Gadar Gayan
- Adam Muhammad Zaria Kwarbai
- Muhammad Awwal Iyal Zaria
- Bakir Muhammad Iyal Zaria
- Umar Abba Zaria
- Sulaiman Haris Zaria
- Ibrahim Dogo Zaria
- Dalha Driver Zaria
- Muhammad Sa’id Zaria
- Ali Haruna Adam Zaria
- Ja’afar Amin Zaria
- Kabir Muhammad Sani Zaria
- Abdulkarim Musa Ali Zaria
- Ibrahim Hashim Zaria
- Fatima Amin Zaria
- Rilwan Kurmin Kogi Zaria
- Mu’azu Rilwan Zaria
- Abdullahi Abbas Zaria
- Abdurrazaq Abdulllahi Abbas Zaria
- Abbas Abdullahi Abbas Zaria
- Muhammad Abdullahi Abbas Zaria
- Ahmad Abdulllahi Abbas Zaria
- Ibrahim Abdullahi Abbas Zaria
- Jawad Abdullahi Abbas Zaria
- Junaidu Sabi’u Zaria (Shahid)
- Atiku Ibrahim Zaria (Shahid)
- Zakariyya Zaria (Shahid)
- Yahaya Alaramma Zaria
- Baba Shu’aibu Zaria Jushi
- Anas Ibrahim Zaria Jushi
- Anas Sulaiman Zaria
- Abdulhamid Mukhtar Zaria Jushi
- Abdulrazaq Sulaiman Zaria Jushi
- Bara’u Sulaiman Zaria Jushi
- Nuhu Sulaiman Zaria Jushi
- Tasi’u Hamisu (Abba) Zaria Jushi
- Tasi’u Salisu Zaria Jushi
- Hamisu Idris Zaria Jushi
- Mukhtar Hamisu Zaria Jushi
- Zaharadeen Salisu Zaria Jushi
- Muntaka Salisu Zaria Jushi
- Sani Salisu Zaria Jushi
- Sufiyanu Abdussalam Zaria
- Usman Umar Zaria Jushi
- Baban Babaye Zaria Jushi
- Usman Wadata Zaria Jushi
- Baraka Ishaq Zaria Jushi
- Ammar Zaria (Al-Mustapha) Jushi
- Salihu Zaria (Al-Mustapha) Jushi
- Ammar Isa Goza Zaria Jushi
- Ibrahim Sulaiman Zaria Jushi
- Abdullahi Abubakar Zaria Jushi
- Abba Sulaiman Zaria Jushi
- Mubarak Danjuma Zaria Jushi
- Shamsuddin Isa Zaria Jushi
- Abba Zaria (Al-Mustapha) Jushi
- Adamu Mika’il Zaria (Al-Mustapha)
- Salihu Gidan Alhaji Alkalin Ja’e
- Yusuf Yahaya Haris Zaria
- Aliyu Na Gambo Yakana Zaria
- Adamu Ibrahim Zaria Kusfa
- Adam Ibrahim Mazangudu Zaria
- Junaidu Sabi’u Zaria Kusfa
- Musa Taikon Zaria Kusfa
- Atiku Sabi’u Zaria Kusfa
- Abdulkadir Ibrahim Zaria Kusfa
- Abdullahi Ibrahim Zaria
- Ibrahim Bara’a Zaria
- Abubakar Isma’il Zaria
- Abdulhadi Junaidu Zaria Albarkawa
- Sani Sufi Zaria Unguwar Liman
- Ibrahim I. Yusuf Zaria (Al-Mustapha)
- Isa Suffi Zaria Unguwar Sirdi
- Salmanu Abdullahi Zaria B/Kasuwa
- Abdullahi Akto Zaria (Al-Mustapha)
- Usman Muhammad Zaria Jushi
- Yakubu Abdullahi Zaria
- Abdullahi Adamu Wanka
- Abdullahi Yunusa Wanka