The Islamic movement has raised alarm over the reported deaths of several Free Palestine protesters in the custody of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
According to a press release signed by Shaikh Sidi Munir Mainasara on behalf of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of His Eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky on Tuesday, 8th April, 2025, at least one detainee has died in police custody since the mass arrest of protesters on March 28, 2025.
“We recently received shocking news that the free Palestine protesters that have been detained by the FCT Police Command since 28 March, 2025, are dying in police custody,” the statement reads.
“Those that recently passed away include Shaheed Huzaifa Muhammad, Tudun Iya, Katsina State, who attained martyrdom on Monday, 7 April, 2025, around 6pm in SARS Abattoir, Guzape, Abuja.”
The movement recalled that on Friday, March 28, the Guards Brigade “unprovokedly attacked” the 2025 Abuja International Quds Day gathering held at Usman Bin Affan Mosque along Aminu Kano Crescent in Abuja. “During the attack, the Army killed 26 protesters and arrested 274, including 60 minors; this also includes 11 patients who are still being detained despite their critical health conditions,” the movement stated. “Up to this moment, the Army and the police refused to release both the detained protesters and the corpses of those killed by the Army.”
The press release emphasised that the sole “crime” of those killed or detained was participating in the International Quds Day rally and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“International Quds Day was initiated by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. Quds Day is a Global Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, observed peacefully in over 80 countries,” the statement explained.
“The Islamic movement under the leadership of His Eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky has been observing Quds Day for more than four decades. This year alone, Quds Day was observed in more than 17 states of Nigeria, including cities like Lagos, Kano, and Sokoto, without any report of provocations.”
Referencing statements from Nigerian officials, the Islamic Movement pointed to remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tugar, who reportedly told Al Jazeera in Doha, Qatar, that “Israel must stop its war on Gaza, and the world needs to drop its double standards over the killings in the besieged enclave.”
“Surprisingly,” the group continued, “in March 2025, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, directed the security agents to attack free Palestine protesters in Abuja.”
In a strong conclusion, the Islamic movement held the Nigerian president responsible for the deaths and vowed legal and spiritual action: “We are going to hold Bola Ahmed Tinubu responsible for the killing of 27 free Palestine protesters and vow to pray against all those that ordered/executed the killing and arrest of participants of the 2025 Abuja International Quds Day.”
“While condemning this devilish crime against humanity, we vow to challenge all the human rights abuses meted out on the free Palestine protesters in court,” the statement concluded.
