Hawzah News Agency- Nigeria's army is planning attacks on Shia processions scheduled Nov. 20 (Arbaeen), the Islamic Movement in Nigeria said Tuesday as the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission asked Nigeria's president to ensure their protection.

The Nigerian army gunned down and killed more than 1000 Shia in December and buried them secretly in a mass grave, according to an independent government-appointed committee into the killings in northern Zaria city.

Dozens remain in illegal military detention including leader Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was shot seven times and lost one eye.

Nigeria's army accused the Shia of trying to assassinate the country's army chief — a claim human rights groups call unbelievable.

On Tuesday, Shia spokesman Ibrahim Musa said Tuesday's appeal from the Islamic Human Rights Commission to President Muhammadu Buhari was based on reports from military intelligence officers privy to alleged plans to attack processions and burn members' businesses and homes.

Nigeria's 170 million people are equally divided between Christians and mainly Sunni Muslims. Zakzaky is believed to have about 5 million followers.

The group has been attacked in the past. In 2014, soldiers opened fire on a procession, killing 34 people including three of Zakzaky's sons.

Last month, the Shia movement was outlawed in its home state of Kaduna, a move analysts warn could spark another Islamic uprising.

The Shias insist they are peaceful and note that suicide bombers of Boko Haram Islamic extremist group attacked a procession last year, killing several people.

Boko Haram emerged as a much more radical and violent group after a military attack on its headquarters in northeast Maiduguri city in 2009 killed about 700 people.