On Wednesday, August 20, Muslim clerics from the South West region organized a peaceful protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, to oppose any potential military partnership between Nigeria and Israel.
Coordinated by the Ibadan branch of Aqsah Nigeria, the event aimed to spotlight the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for immediate action to stop what they termed the genocide against Palestinians.
Leading figures among protest organisers
The protest saw the participation of key Islamic scholars, including Dr. Dawud Amoo-Alaga, a respected academic; Sheikh Abdulwaheed Abdul Hamid, founder of Anaajah Arabic Institute in Ibadan; Sheikh Abdul Fatah Sanni, President of the Council of Ulamah, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria; and Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii, Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations in Nigeria.
Their demonstration was in response to recent announcements from Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence about plans to bolster military ties with Israel.
These plans were discussed during a meeting between Israeli Ambassador Michael Freeman and Nigerian defence officials, where both countries highlighted interests in collaborating on joint operations, intelligence exchange, defence modernization, and possibly signing a bilateral security agreement.
MURIC issues strong rebuke of Israel over Gaza
During the protest, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), delivered a passionate address to journalists condemning Israel’s conduct in Gaza, as reported by Daily Trust.
Source: Twitter
Akintola accused Israel of striking civilian spaces, including educational institutions, religious centers, media offices, and refugee settlements. He claimed that 238 journalists and over 2,000 civilians were killed as they sought food and safety.
“As of Tuesday, 266 children had died of starvation due to the blockade. Israel has turned hospitals into death zones even while ceasefire talks were ongoing. This is a blatant violation of human rights,” Akintola said.
Demands for Nigeria to end cooperation with Israel
Akintola went on to criticize the decision by Nigerian authorities to seek greater military engagement with what he referred to as “an apartheid state guilty of crimes against humanity.”
He called on the Nigerian government to cancel any plans for security alliances, cut off economic transactions, and completely sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
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