This claim has been strongly rejected by the IMN and several human rights organizations who argue that the massacre occurred without any provocation and that all the protestors were unarmed.

[10] Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman claimed that, on 12 December, IMN members had attempted to assassinate General Tukur Burutai while he was driving through Zaria by blocking a stretch of road near their headquarters and throwing stones[2][5] alongside a petrol bomb[11] at his convoy.

[12] According to a Human Rights Watch report, Nigeria's government buried the bodies without family members' permission.

[13][14][15] Peaceful protests condemning the killings were held in cities across India, including Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

[23] On 1 August 2016, the commission of inquiry came to the conclusion that Zakzaky should be held responsible, due to "refusing to call his members to order when required to do so.