By Ammar Muhammad Rajab The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has opened fire on the Quds day procession held by the activists of the ...
By Ammar Muhammad Rajab
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has opened fire on the Quds day procession held by the activists of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria known as Shiites in Abuja killing a 15-year-old boy and leaving dozens injured.
The Islamic movement in Nigeria under Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is the largest organisation representing Shias in the country.
An eyes witness told our reporter that dozens of others were injured during the procession on Friday, April 14 in the capital city of the country.
The Islamic movement in Nigeria in a statement released after the incident said the procession was to show solidarity with Palestinians, and the attack was unprovoked.
When contacted, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh said “No comment” and hung up the phone.
An eyewitness told our reporter that the protesters were protesting “peacefully and calmly” waving the Palestinian flags and bearing pictures of some prominent Muslim clerics and also chanting “Death to Israel and US”, was proceeding from the Fouad Labibidi Mosque in Wuse Zone 3, toward Berger Roundabout when it encountered a checkpoint of the Nigerian Police Force and they began firing at the crowd.
In a statement distributed to the public during the procession and signed by Dr Dauda Nalado for the Islamic movement, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky titled; “NO TO THE CONTINUED ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE BY APARTHEID ISRAEL”, the statement said; “Apartheid Israel continues its illegal occupation of Palestine. Incessant terror attacks by the Israeli brutal forces are being done frequently. The gross violations of human rights against Palestinians become the order of the day”.
“Zionist Israel was carved out of Palestine in 1948, dispossessing its inhabitants and replacing them with Jews from Europe and other parts of the world. In 1967, the remaining lands of Palestine—East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza were swallowed up, and their inhabitants were subjected to an oppressive rule, controlling and humiliating every aspect of their daily lives. Some places like Gaza could be described as open-air prisons. Currently, there are millions of Palestinian refugees in the shanty camps of Lebanon and Jordan. We may recall that Ariel Sharon, in 1982, butchered around 2,000 people in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila”, the statement expressed.
The statement also added that; “The silence of governments and the international community emboldens apartheid Israel in its continued illegal and brutal occupation. The Zionist entity controls America, which uses its veto power at the UN to block any resolution for justice for Palestine and to condemn gross abuses of human rights and acts of war crimes against them. Again, the news from the mainstream media is tailored to Zionist favour”.
“There is a need for global awareness and consolidated efforts for the emancipation of Palestine. Imam Khomeini (QS), in 1979, declared every last Friday of Ramadan as International Quds Day. Since then, a wide range of activities, such as peaceful street matches and protests, rallies, lectures, and symposia, have been carried out globally to mark the annual event", the statement stated.
The Islamic movement in Nigeria further highlighted; “The increase in people's awareness of the injustice being perpetrated against Palestine and the exposure of atrocities being committed by the Zionists, coupled with the unity among the axis of resistance against the occupation of Palestine, are clear indications that Israel and its allies like America will crumble sooner”, the statement added.
The Islamic movement also said “Before now, Israel has been hiding the atrocities it is committing against Palestine and labelling Palestinians as terrorists. But an increase in awareness through street marches, protests, rallies, lectures, and symposia brings about global awareness and makes it very easy for people across the globe to see what is happening and understand the ugly faces of Israel. As a result of that, Israel can no longer hide its atrocities against Palestine. It's now clearly understood that Israel is the one perpetrating terrorism against Palestine”.
The Islamic Movement has been observing this event for over three decades in Nigeria. “One of the reasons for the Buhari massacre in Zaria to kill Sheikh El-Zakzaky and disband the Islamic Movement was this support and solidarity for the Palestinians. The same Buhari-led government that used the military to inflict the death-threatening injuries on Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife is now denying them their fundamental human rights to health by imposing an illegal ban on their travel documents”, the Islamic movement alleges.
The Islamic movement condemned the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa mosque and occupation of Palestine “by the apartheid Zionist Israel regime and we support the oppressed people of Palestine in their just struggle”, the statement stressed.
The 15-year-old member of the Islamic movement named Yaqoub Umar (Khalifa) killed during the Quds day procession in Abuja has since been buried on Saturday, 15th April 2023 at Darur Rahma cemetery in Zaria, where the martyrs of the Islamic movement were rest.
It was reported that this year International Quds processions were marked in various towns and cities in Nigeria which includes; Zaria, Kaduna, Kano, Abuja, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Potiskum and Nguru in Yobe State, Lafia in Nasarawa State, Gombe, Jos in Plateau State, Yola in Adamawa state among others.
No comments