Shiite Religious Center Razed to Ground by Nigeria Army
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A religious center belonging to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has been razed to the ground by the Nigerian army, a report said.
According to a report released by the official website of IMN on Sunday, the Nigerian troops bulldozed Hussainiyyah Baqeeyatullah in the northern city of Zaria in Kaduna State.
The building suffered partial destruction on Sunday last week after the Nigerian army launched an attack on the religious center.
On December 12, Nigerian soldiers opened fire on the people attending a religious ceremony at the site. Ibrahim Musa, the spokesman of the IMN, announced later that nearly 800 people were killed during the raid.
One day later, the army raided several buildings connected to the Islamic Movement and the home of Shiite leader Ibrahim Yaqoub al-Zakzaky. They arrested him and killed key members of the group, including Zakzaky’s second-in-command and spokesman.
Aliy, Zakzaky’s son, was among dozens who lost their life in the raid.
Three of Sheikh Zakzaky’s sons had been killed in a similar attack by the Nigerian Army in July 2014.
The Nigerian Army alleges that members of the Islamic Movement were involved in an attack on the convoy of the Chief of Nigeria’s Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. The movement has vehemently denied the allegations.