Shops and homes belonging to Shi'ite Muslims in Nigeria's Kaduna state were destroyed by rampaging mobs in a wave of attacks that spread across several towns Oct. 15. The attacks, which came as Shi'ites were celebrating their Ashura religious festival, were reported from the towns of Tudun Wada, Ungwan Muazu and Kabala West. A Shi'ite religious school was also destroyed in Tudun Wada earlier in the week. Human Rights Watch blamed Kaduna state authorities for enflaming an atmosphere of intolerance by persecuting Shi'ites in appeasement of local Sunni fundamentalist sentiment. HRW stated that "the move to ban the Shia umbrella body, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), by the Kaduna State government appears to have triggered a wave of discrimination and violence against Shia elsewhere in the country." (ABNA, Information Nigeria, Premium Times, Nigeria, Oct. 15)
Nigerian army uses Trump’s words to justify shooting protesters
Nigerian army troops opened fire Oct. 29 on a march of about 1,000 Shi'ite activists who were blocking traffic in the capital, Abuja, killing at least 40. The army's official Twitter account posted a video, "Please Watch and Make Your Deductions," including a clip of Donald Trump's recent anti-migrant speech in which he said rocks would be considered firearms if thrown toward the US military at the nation's borders. (NYT)