2015 Zaria massacre
The Zaria massacre, also known as the Buhari 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 (IMN). At least 1000 civilians were killed, with 347 bodies secretly buried by the Army in a mass grave.
| 2015 Zaria massacre | |
|---|---|
Zaria Location of Zaria in Nigeria | |
| Location | Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria |
| Coordinates | 11°04′N 7°42′E |
| Date | 12–14 December 2015 |
| Target | Shia community, Islamic Movement of Nigeria |
| Deaths | At least 1000+ |
| Perpetrators | Nigerian Army |
The Army claimed that it had responded to an attempt to assassinate Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, by the IMN. This claim has been strongly rejected by the IMN 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 violations since the return to democracy" in Nigeria.