By Zainab Rauf, Abuja Two Nigerian lawmakers, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), hav...
By Zainab Rauf, Abuja
Two Nigerian lawmakers, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), have earned praise for their public declaration of solidarity with the Palestinian people following a dramatic display at the Senate on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
In a video that quickly went viral, Senator Ningi was seen donning a black outfit and a white keffiyeh, raising two fingers in the air while repeatedly chanting, “Free Palestine!” His colleague, Senator Aliero, joined in by echoing the same phrase, saying, “Even though I don’t have white keffiyehs, I also say, ‘Free Palestine!’” — a statement he repeated four times to emphasise his support.
The Islamic movement in Nigeria, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, commended the senators’ actions, describing them as “a commendable expression of conscience, justice, and humanity” in the face of what they called ongoing oppression against the Palestinian people.
In a statement signed by Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara on behalf of the movement, the senators’ show of support was hailed as bold and morally upright. The group urged other members of the National Assembly, regardless of religion or political leaning, to emulate the act and publicly condemn what it described as Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.
The press release provided a historical overview of the Palestinian plight, tracing the crisis back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1948 Nakba (Palestinian displacement), during which more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes.
Highlighting Nigeria’s own history with the Palestine solidarity movement, the statement recounted several Quds Day processions—organised annually by the Islamic Movement since the 1980s—which were met with deadly force by Nigerian security forces. These include the 2001 killing of six protesters in Kano, the 2009 police shooting in Zaria, and the 2014 massacre in Zaria, where 34 people were killed, including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky. More recently, on March 28, 2025, 26 people were reportedly killed and 180 detained during a Quds Day rally in Abuja.
The movement also noted international support for Palestine, citing mass demonstrations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The statement referenced Bolivia’s severing of diplomatic ties with Israel in 2023, Belize’s suspension of relations, and similar actions by Chile and Colombia. Additionally, a June 2025 United Nations General Assembly resolution was mentioned, where an overwhelming majority of countries (149 out of 180) voted to demand the immediate end of Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
“We reiterate our steady commitment to the defense of oppressed people everywhere and reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their legitimate struggle for freedom and justice,” the statement concluded.
The show of solidarity by Senators Ningi and Aliero adds to the growing global chorus of voices demanding justice for Palestinians amid continuing conflict in the Middle East.
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