‘Millions’ of Muslims have attended the International Quds day marches organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) known as Shias across various cities of the country unmolested, contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that they maybe stopped by security agencies.
The President of Media Forum of IMN, Mr. Ibrahim Musa, said in a statement on Friday that their members marched to show their solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people and condemn “Israeli atrocities in occupied territories of Palestine”.
Musa sated that thousands of members of the IMN in Sokoto, Katsina and Potiskum started their peaceful processions in the morning before Friday prayers, where they followed the major streets chanting slogans in support of the Palestinian cause.
In Katsina, he said, Sheikh Yaqoub Yahya addressed the mammoth crowd that participated in the march, calling on the international community to sever the hands of Israeli usurpers in Palestine.
He said that in Sokoto, it was Sheikh Qasim Umar that called on the thousands that attended the march not to relent in their efforts to see to the liberation of Palestine from the clutches of Israeli Zionists.
However, he stated, the Quds Day marches were held after Friday prayers in many other cities like Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Bauchi, Yola, Lafia, Gombe and Jalingo.
Musa said that with members of the Movement clad in white T-shirts with inscriptions “Free Sheikh Zakzaky”, Free Palestine” they also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the leader of the Movement who has been in detention since the Army attacked the center of the Movement in Zaria last December.
He said while addressing the protesters at the close of the event in Kaduna, Malam Aliyu Tirmizi who led the demonstration, warned against the importation of state terrorism by the Nigerian government from Israel as evident in what happened in Zaria last December.
He stated: “Even though prior to the Quds Day procession there was widespread apprehension that Nigerian Army will attack the protesters, it ended peacefully.
“Soldiers were cited in Katsina and Sokoto during the marches; however they did not make any effort to disperse the protest.”
