Several members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, on Sunday, openly burst into tears as they marked the 9th annual commemoration of the killings of their loved ones in Zaria on December 12, 2015.

Mostly, the female members of the Islamic Movement testified to the socio-economic pains they are now enduring without their breadwinners and others, following the killing of their husbands and relatives in the bloody clash with the Army on that fateful day.

The IMN members, also known as Shiites, had clashed with the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, when members of the Muslim sect, who had occupied a major highway in Zaria for the Maulud celebration, allegedly attacked the soldiers clearing the way for the Army boss.

Many persons reportedly lost their lives in the clash between the soldiers attached to Buratai’s convoy and the Shiite Muslim sect.

However, while commemorating the annual event, a group, Hurras of the Islamic Movement, Kaduna State chapter, alleged that the intention of the Army was to wipe out the IMN.

Answering questions from journalists shortly after the event at the weekend, the chief organizer of the annual occasion, Mohammed Abubakar Abdullahi, said the essence of the event was to draw sympathy from members of the public for the victims of what he described as the “Zaria massacre,” which was to be observed in December 2024 but shifted to this January due to unforeseen circumstances.

According to him, “The event is about the commemoration of the 2015 Zaria massacre. Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were celebrating Maulud, the birth of Prophet Mohammed, when we heard that our brothers were attacked in Zaria by the Nigerian military.

“So every year we commemorate the incident at least to draw or have mercy and sympathy from the masses of Nigeria because the intention of the military was to wipe out the entire IMN, but by the will of Allah, we are still alive, and our leader too is still alive. We thank Allah for that. This is the reason for this event—to commemorate the Zaria massacre,” Abdullahi said.

Another victim, who identified himself as Mustapha, said, “I was shot by security operatives during the massacre. Today I am paralyzed, moving in a wheelchair. My father and two of my brothers were killed. Just imagine my situation. What security agencies did to us on that day was injustice because we were practicing our religion without harming anybody. I am happy that I am alive today.”

Also, a female member who pleaded anonymity said, “My husband was killed by soldiers on that fateful day for no just cause. Today I have no breadwinner. I am struggling to fend for my children.”

The guest speaker of the occasion, a lecturer with Kaduna State University (KASU), Nasir Hashim, lamented, “From the testimonies given by victims of the Zaria massacre, I almost shed tears. I was touched as if there is no humanity in this country.

“It shows that innocent people could be killed. The solution to any incident like the Zaria massacre is to give justice to all. We should allow justice to reign to prevent any violence. Here in Nigeria, we don’t have justice because leaders are benefiting from injustice.

“We must give justice to those who deserve justice. And justice cannot come on its own; people must seek justice. The same way you seek freedom, you have to seek justice.”