A violent clash between Nigerian security forces and demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian rally in Abuja left 12 people dead, including one soldier, according to a government intelligence report. The protest, held on Friday by the banned Iran-linked Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), was part of International Quds Day, an annual event observed in support of Palestinians.
The Nigerian military accused the protesters of instigating violence by opening fire on security forces, prompting soldiers to retaliate. Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu stated that the demonstrators became “outrageously violent” and attempted to overrun security personnel, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. Two additional soldiers were reportedly wounded in the confrontation.
However, Amnesty International Nigeria disputed the military’s account, alleging that soldiers fired live rounds at demonstrators as a means of crowd control. The rights group condemned the use of force, sharing footage of security forces assaulting an arrested protester and arguing that the IMN supporters were within their rights to hold a religious procession.
The intelligence report stated that 19 people were injured, while 295 others were arrested following the protest. Officials also claimed that flags waved by demonstrators at the event undermined Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The IMN, a Shiite organization inspired by Iran’s Islamic Revolution, has been banned in Nigeria since 2019. While the group has been accused of promoting an Islamic revolution in the country, researchers have described it as more focused on protests than outright political violence. The IMN has clashed with Nigerian security forces in the past, including an attack in August that left two law enforcement officers dead, according to police reports.
The movement’s leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, was released from prison in 2021 after more than five years in detention. Zakzaky has long maintained close ties with Iran, which supports Hamas and opposes Israel.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/12-killed-in-clash-between-nigerian-troops-and-anti-israel-quds-day-protesters/