Kunle Adelabu
Hundreds of Muslims across the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Thursday, gathered at the Ikorodu Central Mosque Eid Prayer Ground, along the Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikorodu, to offered special prayers in support of the Palestinian people who were at war with the State of Israel.
The Muslim community called for the establishment of State of Palestine, and stoppage of war in the region.
Aside praying for the stoppage of the war, the muslims also demanded for the creation of a State for Palestine, and access to important Islamic sites which they have been denied access to by the Israeli.
During the peaceful protest, chieftains and members of the muslim community in Ikorodu Division, carried placards with inscriptions like, “Nigerian students stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine: Long live Gazza, Long live Palestune”, “UN Stop Funding Terrorism”, “UN: Execute resolutions on Palestine/Israel 1967 land demarcation”, “Israel Is A Terror State! The World Must Stop Her Now”, “Netanyahu, A War Criminal! Stop Killing Women and Children”, “Hands Off Jerusalem” and “Boycott Apartheid Israel, Free Palestine”, among others.
Fadhilat Shaykh Yayha Oshoala, Chief Imam Jamiu of Oriwu Central Mosque, speaking, said that Muslims in Ikorodu were gathered in solidarity with those in Palestine, on their conflict with Israeli.
“The Muslim Community in lkorodu Division, under the leadership of the Shakyh Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, the Grand Chief Imam of the Division, and the entire Muslims in all the Councils in the Division, are gathering today and embarking on a procession to announce to the world that we are concerned about what is going on between Israel and Palestine”, Fadhilat Oshoala said.
“We want Palestine to be free. They should be left alone to live freely on their land. That is what we want. We want Palestinian State for them”.
While stating that the war not religious, the Islamic scholar explained that:
“The conflict between Israel and Palestine is not a religious war. For the Israelis, it is a war to subvert human rights to their advantage, and show of power and oppression of the highest order”, he said.
“To our brothers in Palestine, it is war for human rights and self – defense. The 2023 phase of the war is for self – defense for the Palestine”, he added.
He said that the displacement and settlement of the Palestine by the United Nations caused the war that has been ravaging the region since 1947.
“We pray to the Almighty Allah to strengthen to –Palestinians, the muslims around them, christians and all others, so that they will become free”, he said.
The Grand Chief Imam, Ikorodu Division, Fadhilat Shaykh Seifudeen Olowo-Oribi, speaking, said that the muslim community want freedom for the Palestinians, and end to the war.
“We are gathering here to pray to Allah, to free Palestinians. We want freedom for them and free from Israel”, he said.
“It is important to identify with the people in Palestinians that are being ravaged by the bombardment by Israel. It is important for us to support these people that are suffering, because they are our brothers and sisters.
“We are also praying that wars around the world should end, and that we should not have war in Nigeria”, Sheikh Olowo-Oribi said.
He thanked the Muslims that honoured the invitation to the special prayer and protest in support for the Palestine.
Other leading cleric at the special prayer event were: Fadeeahtul -Sheikh Al – Imam Dhikrullah Abdulahi Andu (Tanimose), Chief Imam of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Alhaji Musediq Aridegbe Kosoko, Chief Imam, Ikorodu West LCDA, and Alhaji Misbaudeen O. Rotinwa, Coordinator, Ikorodu Muslim Community Association (IMCA) among others.
The present armed conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023, after the latter launched a multi-pronged invasion of southern Israel. After clearing Hamas militants, the Israeli military retaliated by conducting an extensive aerial bombardment campaign on Gazan targets, and followed up with a large-scale ground invasion of Gaza.
