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Women, Children Were Also Killed During Shi'ites Protest, Says Amnesty International

October 10, 2018

"At least 39 protesters killed, and 122 injured, in a single day. Victims include men, women and children. An investigation by Amnesty International shows that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) over two days," the statement read.

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Amnesty International has said security operatives must be held accountable for the death of Shi'ites during the three-day 'Arbaeen Symbolic Trek'.

A statement by Isa Sanusi, Media Manager of Amnesty International Nigeria on Wednesday, noted that the organisation had evidence that "at least" 39 protesters were killed and 122 sustained injuries in one day.

According to the organisation, its researchers visited five different locations in Abuja and Nasarawa State, where wounded IMN supporters were receiving treatment. Two locations where bodies were deposited were also visited.

The statement read: "Strong evidence that soldiers used automatic firearms on Shi’a Muslims holding religious procession and protest. At least 39 protesters killed, and 122 injured, in a single day
Victims include men, women and children. An investigation by Amnesty International shows that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) over two days, as the Shi’a Muslim group held a peaceful religious procession around Abuja.

"Amnesty researchers visited five different locations in Abuja and Nasarawa state where wounded IMN supporters were receiving treatment, including two locations where bodies were deposited. Researchers spoke with victims, eyewitnesses and medical practitioners, and analyzed videos and photographs of those injured and killed during the protests, which took place on Saturday and Monday."

Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, also noted that they had seen "shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members," stating that "video footage and eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning, in clear violation of Nigerian and international law.

"It seems the Nigerian military are deliberately using tactics designed to kill when dealing with IMN gatherings. Many of these shootings clearly amount to extrajudicial executions. This violent crackdown on IMN protesters is unjustified and unacceptable. They were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life," she said.

According to Sanusi, "Those injured were shot in different parts of the body — head, neck, back, chest, shoulder, legs, arms — and some of them had multiple gunshot wounds. This pattern clearly shows soldiers and police approached IMN processions not to restore public order, but to kill. Amnesty International has evidence that the military used automatic firearms during Monday’s protest, in which at least 122 protesters sustained gunshot wounds and at least 39 were killed. At least six people were killed in protests on Saturday.

"The organization’s research team counted 24 bodies (23 male and one female) and trusted sources provided details of 21 others. Two of the bodies seen had their legs severed, which Amnesty International’s military and weapons expert analyzed as consistent with injuries caused by a heavy fully-automatic machine gun such as a PKM or DShK. Many injured IMN supporters have sought medical treatment in unofficial buildings due to fear of arrest if they go to hospital."

A medical worker near Abuja who spoke to Amnesty International, said: “From Monday, I attended to 57 people with gunshot wounds, most of them still having the bullets lodged in their bodies. We are only trying to stabilize them by arresting the flow of blood before sending them to hospital. It is not an ideal situation because this is an uncompleted building, not a hospital. I am hoping that they get to hospital today.”

“We are once again calling on the Nigerian authorities to impartially investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the extrajudicial execution killing of IMN supporters, including the commanders who gave the orders for live bullets to be used. The continuous failure to investigate these gross human rights violations is fueling a dangerous disdain for the sanctity of human life in Nigeria," Ojigho said.

According to the organisation, "the Nigerian authorities have an obligation under international law to ensure there is a full and independent investigation of deaths at the hands of security forces and that those responsible, including in the command structure of the security forces, are held accountable under criminal law".