AKIPRESS.COM - Soldiers killed hundreds of Shiite Muslims this weekend after their group opened fire on the convoy of Nigeria's army chief, the Shia Islamic Movement and military reports said Monday.

Other reports put the number of dead at about 20, ABC News said.

Shiite leader Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah Ibrahim, are in military custody, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state told The Associated Press. The movement had earlier reported that Zakzaky's wife was among the dead from the military raids in northern Zaria town, along with two of their sons and Zakzaky's deputy.

"They were arrested alive and are receiving medical attention," El-Rufai said in an email message that implied the couple may have been wounded.

Zeenah Ibrahim called AP early Sunday to report that soldiers were besieging her home in a "pre-planned attack to assassinate the sheikh." She said hundreds of Zakzaky's followers surrounded the house to protect the leader.

Witness Ojo Momodu said the Shiites barricaded the road with burning tires as Buratai approached and then stoned his convoy. Momodu said residents are frequently harassed by the Shiites' unlawful blocking of roads for processions.

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman called the stoning of Gen. Tukur Buratai's convoy "a deliberate attempt to assassinate."

The Shiites two weeks ago suffered a suicide bombing by Boko Haram that killed 22 people. Boko Haram often attacks Muslims who oppose its radical vision of Islam.