Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, who supervised the slaughter of 348 members of Shiite Islamic group in Zaria, Kaduna State in 2015, has urged the United Nations to declare June 12 Word Democracy Day.

Nigeria’s Democracy Day used to be May 29 until President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime in 2018, declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of Moshood Abiola, the adjudged winner of annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

In a statement commemorating Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Mr Buratai paid tribute to the late Mr Abiola, describing him as an international figure, while urging the UN to declare June 12 World Democracy Day.

“Let me also pay tribute to Chief MKO Abiola, GCFR, for his democratic sacrifice which we are celebrating. This is a clear confirmation that his sacrifice is not in vain. His spirits of selflessness, patriotism, and unity are worthy of emulation by all democratic leaders nationally and globally.

“Abiola was an international figure who fought for reparation as restitution for the injustices done to the black race worldwide. I, therefore, call on the United Nations (UN) to declare 12 June every year as World Democracy Day”,  Mr Buratai said

Mr Buratai’s statement contradicts his actions when, as Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, he championed the massacre of Shiite members who blocked his way as he journeyed through Kaduna State in 2015.

Amnesty International described the incident as “mass slaughter of hundreds of men, women and children by soldiers” led then by Mr Buratai.

“More than 350 people are believed to have been unlawfully killed by the military between 12 and 14 December, following a confrontation between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna state,” Amnesty International reported.

In 2018, over 40 Shiite members were killed by Nigerian soldiers as they held a procession in Abuja, demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. 

Notorious for the wanton killings of citizens and attacking the press, Mr Buratai, 62, went after Premium Times over a report exposing him. 

Angered by Peoples Gazette’s story that exposed recoveries of cash and luxury items from his residence, Mr Buratai, who retired to be Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic, unleashed the Nigeria police on The Gazette, arrest its staff in July 2022. 

However, The Gazette staff regained their freedom as Nigerians knocked Mr Buratai and the police for intimidating The Gazette.