Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Zaria massacre, a slaughter of at least 1000 innocent civilians by Nigerian security forces.
The massacre occurred when over the course of three days starting Dev 12, 2015, soldiers attacked civilians and property connected to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, which has been highly critical of the political system in the country and its governance.
In the ensuing orgy of bloodshed, security forces gunned down men, women and children before razing buildings connected to the movement. Hundreds more were injured. Witnesses and victims reported signs of widespread force and cruelty with allegations of looting, arson, mutilation, mass graves, torture, rape and other inhumane acts levelled at the Nigerian army.
The movement’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah were both shot and injured in the attack and saw three of their children killed. They were subsequently detained for many years without trial while Nigerian authorities took steps to crush the social and political movement.
In an extensive report, IHRC supplied evidence to the International Criminal Court and asked for Nigeria to be investigated for crimes against humanity.
However, despite calls on the ICC to expedite investigations, justice for the victims of the massacre is still proving elusive even though the Nigerian government has acknowledged the deaths of 350 people.
Victims are still categorised as missing, mass graves have yet to be investigated and none of the officials responsible for the attack have been held accountable. Civilians arrested during the army attack are still being prosecuted to this day.
ICC inaction is a stain on the organisation and the very credibility of international law, sending the message to governments everywhere that they can engage in unjustified violence against their populations with impunity.
The victims of the Zaria massacre deserve justice and closure on this shameful episode.
