Nigerian Shiites say soldiers have killed hundreds

Soldiers killed hundreds of Shiite Muslims this weekend after their group opened fire on the convoy of Nigeria’s army chief, the Shia Islamic Movement and military reports say. Other reports put the number of dead at about 20.

Shiite leader Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah Ibrahim, are in military custody, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state tells The Associated Press. The movement had earlier reported that Zakzaky’s wife was among the dead from the military raids in northern Zaria town, along with two of their sons and Zakzaky’s deputy.

“They were arrested alive and are receiving medical attention,” El-Rufai says in an email message that implied the couple may have been wounded.

Zeenah Ibrahim called AP early Sunday to report that soldiers were besieging her home in a “pre-planned attack to assassinate the sheikh.” She said hundreds of Zakzaky’s followers surrounded the house to protect the leader.

— AP