Nigerian Islamic leaders demand global action over Gaza war
Sheikh Ahmad blames decades of oppression, urges Muslim unity and sanctions against Israel
By Abdullahi Yusuf
With report from Muslim News Nigeria
A coalition of Nigeria’s foremost Islamic scholars on Thursday intensified calls for decisive global action to halt the ongoing Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, describing it as “a genocidal war sustained by decades of injustice.”
The call came during a mega press conference convened by the Ulamau Wing of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) at the TMC Da’wah Centre, Ijesha, Lagos.
Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, Chairman of the Ulamau Wing and National Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, led the charge, delivering a fiery address before a packed hall of clerics, civil society representatives, journalists, and members of the public.
Tracing the conflict to the roots of the 20th century, Sheikh Ahmad reminded the audience that the suffering of Palestinians did not begin with the recent escalation. He linked the crisis to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which paved the way for the Zionist movement’s expansion, and the Nakba of 1948 — the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians.
“The current aggression is not an isolated act of self-defence,” he declared. “It is the latest and most devastating chapter in a long history of dispossession and a deliberate practice of genocide.”
Citing grim statistics, he said more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the latest assault began, with 1.9 million people displaced in what he described as “an unprecedented refugee crisis.” He accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure.
He condemned the use of famine as a weapon of war, pointing to reports of starvation deaths among children.
“This is a deliberate and inhumane strategy to make Gaza uninhabitable,” he said.
While commending the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for recognising elements of genocide and war crimes, Sheikh Ahmad criticised world powers for providing continued military and financial support to Israel.
He warned that Muslim-majority nations, especially in the Gulf region, risk losing credibility among their own people if they remain divided or silent.
“A united voice is our only strength against this injustice,” he charged. “Your muted condemnation is perceived as betrayal by the Palestinian people.”
The cleric called for a coordinated international response: Immediate sanctions against Israel, Halting of arms transfers, Suspension of diplomatic and trade ties until occupation ends, Official designation of Israel as a terrorist state
Adding an emotional dimension to the briefing, Abu Ibrahim Bn Ibrahim, representing the Gaza community in Nigeria, delivered remarks in Arabic that were translated into Yoruba by the CIO’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i.
He expressed deep gratitude to Nigerians — both Muslims and non-Muslims — for their solidarity, singling out former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode for his vocal support of the Palestinian cause.
“Fani-Kayode was raised to love Israel unconditionally, but the events in Gaza have changed his perspective to the extent that he would rather be buried with the people of Gaza than stand with oppression,” Abu Ibrahim said.
The Gaza envoy contrasted Fani-Kayode’s empathy with the inaction of many Muslim leaders, accusing some Arab governments of complicity through silence.
He sharply criticised the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, claiming the latter hides behind false claims of border openness, unlike his predecessor, Mohamed Morsi, who once pressured global leaders to halt Israeli offensives.
“My mother told me she has not eaten bread for 12 days,” he revealed, his voice breaking. “Over 45 members of my family, including my father, have been killed. This is our daily reality.”
Abu Ibrahim emphasised that economic boycotts can influence the tide of the conflict, noting that some global corporations are already adjusting operations under public pressure.
“Those who remain inactive should reflect on the hypocrisy in their hearts,” he warned, quoting a Hadith that frames inaction in the face of injustice as incompatible with true Islamic brotherhood.
He urged Nigeria to take a bolder stance, including expelling any Israeli presence from its soil. Declaring himself an “ambassador for the Palestinian cause in Africa,” he said he travels across cities and countries advocating for Gaza’s liberation.
The conference drew a formidable array of Nigerian Islamic leaders, including: Sheikh Moshood Ramadan, Mudeer, Markaz Salam, Sheikh Thaoban Adam Al-Ilory, Mudeer, Markazul Uloom Arabic and Islamic Centre, Sheikh Abd Majeed Ayinla, Deputy Missioner, Nawair-ud-Deen, Sheikh Muhammad Basheer Ayolo, Mudeer, Mah’d Hidayah Wal Ishaad, Sheikh Abd Rasaq Kewuyemi, Zumratul Mu’mineen, Alhaji Salahudeen Omotayo, JIMSN, Sheikh Olatunji, Zumratul Rashideen, Sheikh Ismail Yusuf Arikewuyo, Lagos Mainland Muslim Community, Sheikh Muhammad Alfa Nla, Jamaatul Islamiyyah, Sheikh Tirimidhi Muhammad Jamiu, Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation, Mallam Kamoldeen Abiona, Amir, MSSN Lagos, Alhaji Abdullah Afolabi, CIO Exco member, Engr. Luqman Balogun, Secretary General, hosting organisation
In closing, Sheikh Ahmad appealed to the global media and humanitarian bodies to frame the Palestinian struggle not as a narrow political or religious dispute but as “a universal fight for justice and humanity.”
“Act now to save Gaza, protect Palestine, and uphold the principles of justice for all,” he said to resounding applause.
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