Hundreds of thousand of Muslims staged peaceful pro-Palestinian rallies across major Nigerian cities, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories.
The demonstrations were held in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Katsina, Zaria, Yola, Funtua, Malumfashi, Jalingo, Hadejia, Saminaka, Lafia, Jos, Minna, among dozens other Nigerian cities and towns.
Qods Days is celebrated every last Friday of Ramadan across the world to hold rallies denouncing the continuous occupation of Palestinian Territories by the Zionist state of Israel.
In Nigeria, the pro-Palestinian rallies were organized by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
In Kano, the rally started shortly after the Friday congregational prayers at Fagge Central Mosque in Kano metropolis and later continued on the streets of Kano carrying Palestinian, Iranian and Nigerian flags.
The peaceful demonstrators marched along major roads in the city chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” while expressing support for Iran and denouncing the United States and Israel aggression on Iran.
During the procession, participants displayed two symbolic coffins wrapped in the flags of the United States and Israel. Photographs of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were placed on the coffins.
The protesters moved from Fagge Central Mosque through Ibrahim Taiwo Road and ended at the bridge leading to Kofar Nasarawa along Zaria Road.
Addressing the the gathering at the end of the rally, the leader of the demonstration, Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara, Quds Day has been marked globally for over four decades through rallies, public awareness campaigns, lectures and discussions highlighting the Palestinian cause.
“Today being the last Friday of Ramadan, the event is being observed in many cities in Nigeria and across the world. This year’s commemoration is particularly significant as the suffering of the Palestinian people continues,” he said.
Mainasara said that since October 2023, a large number of innocent Palestinians had been killed, injured or displaced in the conflict, which he described as a humanitarian tragedy.
In Abuja, the rally took place immediately after Juma’at prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday to express their support for Iran.
The protesters had attended the regular Friday prayer at the mosque before launching the peaceful demonstration.
The protesters began shouting “Allahu Akbar”, “Death to America,” “End Palestine occupation,” and quickly gathered in numbers within the mosque premises.
They also chanted “shame to America”, “shame to Israel”, and “we support Iran”.
In Lagos, staged similar protests were held at the Idimota Central Mosque in Lagos were Muslims holding Palestine flags denounced Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
In Katsina, the protesters began their march after Friday prayers at the Muhammadu Dikko Central Mosque, Kofar Soro. They proceeded through the Adoro and Rafin Dadi neighborhoods before concluding the procession near Malam Barau Hospital. The demonstrators marched in an orderly manner while chanting songs in support of Palestinians and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
