Muslim leaders in the South West on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, rejecting any form of military cooperation between Nigeria and the State of Israel.
The protest, organised by Aqsah Nigeria, Ibadan branch, aimed to draw attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to demand an end to what they described as genocide against Palestinians.
Prominent Islamic leaders at the protest included renowned scholar, Dr. Dawud Amoo-Alaga; founder of Anaajah Arabic Institute, Ibadan, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Abdul Hamid; President of the Council of Ulamah, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul Fatah Sanni; and the Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations in Nigeria, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii.
Their demonstration followed recent statements from Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence reaffirming plans to strengthen military cooperation with Israel.
During a courtesy visit to the ministry by Israeli Ambassador Michael Freeman, both sides discussed joint operations, knowledge sharing, defence modernisation, and a potential bilateral defence pact.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
He accused Israel of bombing schools, churches, mosques, media houses, and refugee camps, noting that 238 media workers and over 2,000 people had been killed while seeking food.
“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.
He questioned Nigeria’s decision to seek military ties with Israel, describing it as “an apartheid state guilty of crimes against humanity.”
He urged the Nigerian government to immediately halt the proposed security alliance, boycott economic relations, and sever diplomatic ties with Israel.
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