Slain 347 Shiites: Falana seeks prosecution of soldiers

LEAD counsel to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Kaduna State government to begin the process that will lead to the prosecution of the soldiers indicted for killing 347 members of the group in December, 2014.

Falana, who demanded that the prosecution be initiated by the end of this month, threatened to apply for a mandatory court order to compel government to do so.

The soldiers had allegedly opened fire on members of the group during a solidarity procession in Zaria, in 2014, alleging that the Shiite group had attempted to assassinate General Buratai.

The Kaduna State government, while speaking on the report of an inquiry launched into the mayhem, had given the number of IMN members who were killed in the incident as 347.

But Falana, in the letter written to the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, accused the state government of limiting the arrests made to “surviving victims of the violent attacks who have since been charged with conspiracy and culpable homicide.”

“We hereby request you to use your good office to ensure that the criminal elements, who killed 347 unarmed civilians, including women and children and buried their bodies are arrested and arraigned in court without further delay.