The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) says it has received 10 additional bodies of its members who died during a recent clash between the group and the Nigeria Army.
The Shiite Muslim sect, which last week clashed with the army in Abuja during their inter-state annual religious trek, initially said 47 members were killed when soldiers opened fire on them.
On Thursday, the members said they received additional 10 corpses from the police, and would bury them at Mararaba, a town in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Ten more corpses from the Arbaeen Abuja killing were recovered yesterday from police, raising the numbers to 57; burial will take place today at Mararaba,” the group said in a statement.
Apart from fulfilling a religious obligation, the Abuja trek was organised to demand the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
El-Zakzaky was arrested in December 2015 after his followers clashed with a convoy of the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai in Kaduna State.
Although the Nigerian government confirmed that over 300 Shiite members were killed in the 2015 clash, no officer has been tried over the matter.
The Shiite members, whose protests contributed to El-Zakzaky’s arraignment, vowed to continue their demand for the release of their leader.
The various protests have been violent with the Shiite members clashing with military officers, resulting in the deaths of many.
While the military blames the Shiite members for provoking the clampdown, the Shiite members denied the allegation, saying the attacks on their members were premeditated and caused by the Nigerian government.
