Nigerian police have opened fire and killed at least four as a large number of people held peaceful demonstrations to express support for Palestinians on International Quds Day.
Police clashed with demonstrators and opened fire with live bullets on the gathering of members of the Nigerian Islamic Movement, who gathered to mark the globally observed day of solidarity with Palestinians on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Nigerian Shia leader Malam Aliyu Tirmizi confirmed that four people were killed and 20 others injured in Kaduna State in Northwestern Nigeria, according to
“We usually come out on the last Friday of every Ramadan to protest peacefully and show our support to the people of Palestine for the inhuman treatment they are being forced to face as is being done by others across the globe.”
He said, “As we were about to start, the police came and threw tear gas at us…and in the process, four of our members were killed while 20 were injured”
The movement has previously warned that the police plan to disrupt the Quds Day rally in the country.
The IMN popularly known as Shiites under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky, said the US is doing all it can to stop global support for the oppressed people of Palestine.
Every year, International Quds Day — initiated by the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini — brings millions of people to the streets across the world for rallies.
This year, demonstrations were held as anger spilled over across the Muslim world amid Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 33,100 Palestinians since October.
A version of this report was published on Press TV.
