Court frees 100 Shiite members over Zaria killings

A Kaduna High Court yesterday freed about 100 of Shiites accused of involvement in the violence of December 2015, which led to the death of scores of followers.
The judge, D.S. Wyom, discharged all the accused while ruling in a no case submission filed by their counsel.
The court judgement was contained in a statement by the Kaduna state government which said it was appealing the ruling.
The Kaduna government accused the Shiites of causing the mayhem, saying it “tendered over 70 exhibits which include guns, cutlasses, knives and IEDs and also the statement of the accused persons which were confessional in nature.” At least, one soldier was confirmed killed in the violence which occurred when hundreds of Shiites blocked a road being used by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
In its statement yesterday evening, the Kaduna state government said it was dissatisfied with the ruling and would appeal it.