Bukhari Muhammed, One of the Nigerians Killed in Zaria Shia Massacre Worked With UNDP

Yemi Adebowale

Nigerians who knew Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega have taken to the social media to react to news of his death alongside dozens who were feared dead after Nigerian troops launched an attack on members of the Shi’te Islamic sect in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a Shi’te Islamic group in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-zakzaky was arrested on Sunday by Nigerian troops, following a siege on his Zaria residence.

The Nigerian Army and members of the sect have accused each other of instigating attacks that led to the death of members of the movement on Saturday.

While the Army accused the Shiite followers of attempting to assassinate Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the Islamic movement said soldiers simply decided to attack “defenseless people”.

According to the El-zakzaky-led Shiite sect, the Army lied.

A statement signed by Isak K and posted on the website of the sect, said the claim that the COAS “narrowly escaped assassination as a result of attack from Muslim brothers and Sisters of the Islamic Movement is a blatant lie.”

The statement said Mr. Usman’s claim “raises series of questions in the mind of right thinking people.”

According to Isak, members of the movement who were unarmed were gathered for a ceremony at their Husainiyyah base, to change the flag on the dome of the building to herald the beginning of the month of Rabiul/Auwal- the birth month of the Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad.

“Any excuse given by the military as reason for besieging Hussainiyyah and firing for hours, leading to the death of yet to be specified number of people, is considered a lie of the decade,” the movement said.

However, the invasion of El-zakzaky’s home by unspecified number of soldiers, Sunday, reportedly led to the death of no fewer than 20 members of the sect, including his son and wife.

Bukhari, who a civil rights advocate who has worked with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP is identified as one of those killed by Nigerian troops.

The following are a set of tweets confirming and reacting to news of his death:

__________

Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng

Copyright 2015 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.