Some insight has been provided into what caused the recent battle between Shiite Muslims and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State as a video of the incident has been released.
In the clip, senior army officers are seen pleading with the Shiites to allow them pass the road while also instructing the armed soldiers on standby not to shoot.
The Shiites however failed to make way despite the officers’ pleas.
The battle between the army and the Shiites occurred on December 12, 2015, after members of the sect allegedly attempted to assassinate Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
The conflict escalated after soldiers surrounded the home of the group's leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky on Saturday.
The resulting gunfight is said to have of Zakzaky’s wife and son and also the group’s Second-in-Command, Sheik Muhammad Turi.
Zakzaky himself has reportedly been arrested by the army while the group claims that 500 of its members were killed during the attacks.
Meanwhile, Shiite Muslims have taken to the streets of major cities in Nigeria to protest the killing of their members by the Nigerian Army.
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Watch the video of the confrontation below: