By Zainab Rauf, Abuja The Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement strongly condemned the attack by the Nigerian Army’s Guard Brigade on the...
By Zainab Rauf, Abuja
The Resource Forum of the Islamic
Movement strongly condemned the attack by the Nigerian Army’s Guard Brigade on
the 2025 Abuja International Quds Day procession. The attack, which occurred on
Friday, March 28, resulted in multiple casualties, including deaths and
injuries, as well as the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
The movement condemned the attacked
during a press conference in Abuja today. In a statement signed by Professor
Abdullahi Danladi, the movement stated: “We condemn the Guard Brigade attack on
the 2025 Abuja International Quds Day procession.”
According to the press release,
“Yesterday, 28 March 2025, being the last Friday of the sacred month of Ramadan
1446H, marks the International Quds Day, a day designated by Imam Khomeini (QS)
as a day of significance in solidarity with the oppressed people of the world,
particularly the Palestinians. Quds Day processions and activities are being
conducted globally in Britain, France, America, Germany, Australia, Sweden,
Canada and numerous countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle
East.”
“The Islamic Movement under the
leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has been observing the International
Quds Day event for more than 40 years in Nigeria. However, the 2025
International Quds Day was conducted peacefully across Nigeria except in
Abuja.”
The statement detailed how the
procession began: “The 2025 Abuja International Quds started peacefully at
Usman Bin Affan Mosque along Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. A few minutes
after the commencement of the procession, a team of the Nigerian Army (the
Guard Brigade) attacked the Quds programme using live ammunition; many
sustained gunshots and life-threatening injuries and some lost their lives as a
result of the brutality. Apart from killing unarmed protesters, the army
committed numerous atrocities, such as men arresting women in the premises of
Usman Bin Affan mosque, beating women and children and removing their hijabs
within the outskirts of the mosque; these atrocities are taboo in Islam and
Muslim culture.”
The press release rejected reports
of a confrontation, asserting: “Unlike other news reporters that reported the
issue of clash or confrontation, there is no form of provocation from the
participants warranting the brutality. In fact, Quds protesters that included
men, women, and children, Muslims and fellow Christians were marching
peacefully from the mosque where they observed the Jumu'at prayer heading to
Wuse Market, the army blocked the way with an Armoured Vehicle and started
shooting on the participants mostly women and minors.”
Further implicating security
agencies, the statement referenced a leaked letter allegedly from the National Security
Adviser’s office: “The public may recall that on 27 March 2025, a letter
emanated from the NSA office surfaced on social media directing the security
agents to take necessary action against the forthcoming International Quds
procession. The letter referenced NSA/366/S dated 26 March 2025 that was sent
to all security agents, including military, police, and other paramilitary
stated that ‘available information revealed that the Islamic Movement has
scheduled Friday, 28 March, 2025, for a procession in Nasarawa State and the
FCT – Abuja to commemorate the International Quds Day.’ The letter added that
‘the procession is aimed at showing solidarity with Palestine.’ The letter
ended with ‘I am directed to most respectfully request you to note the development
for necessary action.’”
The Islamic movement stated that the
security forces had premeditated the attack: “Since the release of this letter,
the security agents, especially in the FCT Abuja, got prepared for the
aforementioned atrocities committed in Usman Bin Affan mosque. Evidence of that
can be deduced from the way security agents were stationed at the National
Mosque Abuja and other mosques in the city.”
The group further accused the Tinubu
administration of inconsistency in its foreign policy: “The discordant in Bola
Ahmed Tinubu administration is surprising. While speaking with Al-Jazeera in
Doha, Qatar in March 2025, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tugar, Nigeria Minister of
Foreign Affairs stated that ‘Israel must stop its war on Gaza, and the world
needs to drop its double standards over the killings in the besieged enclave.’
Then in March 2025 the National Security Adviser is directing the security
agents to attack Free Palestine protesters in Abuja.”
Providing casualty figures, the
statement revealed: “Reliable information confirmed that the Guard Brigade and
the police have arrested three hundred and eighty (380) protesters, including
women and children, and four people were confirmed martyred. Those arrested are
being detained at SARS Abbator, Guzape, Abuja, and those that reached martyrdom
include Shaheed Ibraheem Dalhat (Sharif Albani), Shaheed Nasir Abubakar,
Shaheed Abdulaziz Abubakar, and Shaheed Auwal Abbas Bichi. However, the
security agents are hiding casualties and other corpses of those who passed
away in unknown places; thus, the number of casualties and corpses with the
Guard Brigade and the Police are still unknown. Nevertheless, we will update
the public in due course.”
Holding the Nigerian president
responsible, the statement concluded: “We squarely held Bola Ahmed Tinubu
responsible for the atrocities committed by the Guard Brigade through killing,
abusing Islamic tenet and Muslim culture while attacking 2025 Abuja
International Quds within the vicinity of Usman Bin Affan, Jumu’at Mosque,
Abuja.”
“In view of the foregoing, we are
demanding for unconditional release of all those arrested in connection with
the 2025 Abuja International Quds procession held on 28 March, 2025. We are
also demanding for the prosecution of those responsible for the killings of the
Free Palestine protesters.”
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