In the heart-wrenching aftermath of the 2015 Zaria massacre in Kaduna State, Hajiya Jummai Karofi, a survivor, shared a tragic tale of personal loss and dashed hopes for justice.
The survivor, who faced the brutal incident head-on, revealed that her family bore the brunt, with the irreplaceable loss of five children during the horrifying event.
“I am a mother of nine. I lost five in the Zaria massacre — three biological children and two adopted,” Karofi lamented, her voice tinged with sorrow.
Despite the immense grief, she emphasized her resilience and determination to bear witness to the unspeakable tragedy that unfolded on that fateful day.
Karofi vividly recounted the harrowing experiences she endured during the massacre, painting a stark picture of indiscriminate violence and the callous disregard for human life. “My experience was traumatic. It was terrible. I saw more corpses that I never thought I would see in my life.
They were killing everybody, shooting indiscriminately,” she said, capturing the chaos and brutality that unfolded.
The survivor went on to reveal the physical scars that she herself carries from that dark day. “One is carrying a bullet in his chest right now, and I also was severely injured,” she disclosed, underscoring the lasting impact of the violence on her family.
Expressing her grim outlook on the pursuit of justice, Karofi articulated a sense of despair that has settled in the wake of the tragedy.
“Personally, I have lost hope for justice. The movement had so far been targeted twice for no reason, during this current administration,” she stated, reflecting on the perceived lack of accountability and justice for the victims.
Karofi’s poignant account came to light during the Islamic Movement in Nigeria’s (Shi’ites) 8th anniversary commemoration of the Zaria massacre in Abuja.
The event, themed ‘The Site of Memory: An Ardent Resistance of Our Fallen Heroes,’ served as a platform for survivors like Karofi to share their stories and advocate for justice.
At the commemoration, Prof Isah Hassan Mshelgaru, a guest speaker, focused on the persistent call for justice and accountability for the executors of the December 12, 2015 massacre in Zaria.
Mshelgaru urged human rights advocates, both locally and internationally, to take a stand and demand justice for the victims.
“Amnesty International and similar bodies, the international community, the claimants of democracy and civility championships; UNICEF, whose area of responsibility is mothers and children affairs; feminists, at local and international levels and advocates of women’s rights,” Mshelgaru appealed, seeking widespread support to shine a light on the atrocities committed during the Zaria massacre.
In drawing parallels to global human rights movements, Mshelgaru suggested that rallying support and awareness could pave the way for holding the perpetrators accountable before the International Court of Justice.
He highlighted the severity of the crimes committed, stating, “They were not only kidnapped but sexually harassed and mercilessly murdered by state terrorists.”
As survivors like Hajiya Jummai Karofi continue to grapple with the emotional and physical scars of the Zaria massacre, the call for justice echoes louder, urging the international community to take a stand against impunity and ensure that the victims’ voices are heard.
