The Islamic Movement, popularly known as Shi’ites, on Monday, held a peaceful protest across some states in the country, including FCT where the national flags of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) were set ablaze in protest against alleged continuous killings of Palestinians in Gaza.
Apart from FCT, the protests took place simultaneously in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Adamawa States.
The Islamic group, who came out in their number, called on the US to immediately stop the alleged extrajudicial killing in Gaza.
At the US Embassy in Abuja, where they were received by the secretary of publicity of the embassy, the protesters called on the authorities to stop the ongoing genocides of innocent Palestinians, majority of whom were said to be female and children in Gaza.
Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, in a remark on behalf of the Islamic group under the leadership of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H), said “since the 7th day of October, 2023, Israel has kept up with its inhuman military aggression against the oppressed people of Palestine, without sparing women, children, or the elderly.”
According to him, today marks the 158th day of the Gaza bombardment.
“Within these days, Israel has dropped over 30,000 bombs, killing at least 31,000 Palestinians and leaving over 72,400 injured.
“Nearly 70 per cent of homes in Gaza have been partially or completely wiped out. Places of worship, markets, hospitals, and schools have also been targeted and destroyed.
“According to the United Nations, half of Gaza is at risk of starvation.
“Further, the World Health Organization reports that Israeli attacks and the siege have resulted in the spread of diseases that may even kill more people than the detonated bombs have so far done.
“The over-22-week-old genocide has been made possible by the total support from the US and UK governments.
“They have even blocked a UN Security Council resolution calling for a total ceasefire; this exposes the fact that they are the sponsors and accessories to the Gaza carnage.
“In the context of the ongoing massacre, every reasonable and humane government would rise against the Israeli terror attacks on the ever-persecuted Palestinians in line with international law.
“But the US continues to fan the flames of insensate destruction and cold-blooded murders of innocent people, mainly women, children, and the elderly,” he alleged.
Sokoto said they have seen video footage of young people crying out of gruesome torture, little children sitting in pools of blood and debris, and fathers carrying their emaciated and lifeless kids.
“This pains our hearts and fills us with an unbearable rage. The atrocities are yet ongoing: the siege and indiscriminate bombing.
” The cutting of all means of communication continues, as well as the destruction of buildings, including hospitals.
“We demand an immediate and absolute stop to the ongoing massacre of civilians in the strip of Gaza,” he said.
