Nigerian Shias 'Massacred'; Bodies 'Removed'; Iran 'Urges Nigeria To Protect Shia Population'

Bodies of Shia Muslims killed in clashes with the Nigerian army in the northern city of Zaria are being taken away by the military, a spokesman of the pro-Iranian group has told the BBC.

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) clashed with the military over the weekend, leading to the deaths of dozens of people. 

GRAPHITTI NEWS/BBC Africa Live report continues:

"We have reports that bodies of our members killed outside the house of our leader [Ibrahim Zakzaky] are being evacuated in trucks by soldiers," IMN spokesman Ibrahim Musa told the BBC Hausa service.

"Hospital sources told us that about 300 bodies have been taken to the hospital by the military," he added. 

Residents of the area told the BBC soldiers had set up checkpoints on the streets leading to Sheikh Zakzaky's house.

Those killed during violence included Zakzaky's wife, son and the former IMN spokesman, the group says.

A leading Muslim human right group in Nigeria has called for an independent investigation into the deadly incident in which the army allegedly killed about 100 Shia Muslims in the northern city of Zaria.

"We denounce the well-known belligerent posture of the Nigerian military towards unarmed civilians as manifested in this massacre. It is reckless, lawless and barbaric," the Muslim Rights Concern (Muric) said in a statement.

"It is wanton exhibition of lack of respect for human life... It is impunity of the highest order," it added. 

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) says at least 100 of its followers were killed by the army and its shrine demolished in Zaria. 

The home of its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, was also destroyed, and he was arrested, it said. 

The army has not commented on casualties during the clashes.   

It has accused the IMN of blocking roads during a religious procession and of attempting to assassinate army chief Gen Tukur Buratai. 

However, Muric rejected the army's claim and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take action, saying the army must be held accountable.

"Our democracy is a fraud if soldiers will not submit themselves to civil authority," it said.

Iran's foreign minister has reportedly spoken to his Nigerian counterpart AP

Iran has called on Nigeria to take a “prompt and serious” action to protect Muslims after dozens of Shia followers were allegedly killed in a "military crackdown" in the north of the country, Tehran-based Tasnim news agency reports.  

"It is a worrying incident and that prompt meassures are need to calm the situation", it quotes Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif as telling his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama in a phone call. 

There has been no independent confirmation of the report.   

The pro-Iranian Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), said soldiers had killed hundreds of its members during clashes in northern Zaria city over the weekend. 

The military has not commented on the casualty figures but said the clashes took place after IMN members attempted to assasinate army chief Gen Tukur Buratai.

The IMN enjoys tremendous support from Iran and many of its members are sponsored to go and study there. 

Most of Nigeria's Muslims are Sunnis but the number of Shias is increasing in some areas.