PRESS RELEASE
SENATOR NINGI AND ALIERO'S NEW CHAPTER OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE: A COMMENDABLE EXPRESSION OF HUMAN SYMPATHY
After the senate plenary on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Senator Abdul Ningi was seen in a viral video wearing a black dress and white keffiyeh and raising two fingers while repeatedly chanting, “Free Palestine!” His colleague, Senator Adamu Aliero, also echoed the same phrase, saying, “Even though I don’t have white keffiyehs, I also say, ‘Free Palestine!’”— repeating it four times in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
We commend the two Nigerian Senators, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), for their solidarity with the people of Palestine. The Senators’ action is bold and a commendable expression of conscience, justice, and humanity in the face of ongoing oppression against the Palestinian people.
We urge other members of the National Assembly, both from the Senate and the House of Representatives, regardless of religious affiliation, to emulate this act of moral courage and publicly condemn Israel’s atrocities against innocent Palestinians.
It is pertinent to remind us that the massacre and occupation of Palestine did not start on October 7, 2023. The occupation started in 1917, when the British issued the Balfour Declaration to create a home for the Jewish people in Palestine. This injustice was endorsed by the United Nations. In 1947, the UN proposed partitioning Palestine into two states: one Jewish and one Arab, which led to the Nakba – Palestinian Displacement in 1948. During this catastrophe in 1948, over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes. From 1948 to date, the illegal state of Israel has been killing Palestinian people and those that support the freedom of Palestine.
As a result of this injustice against Palestine, in 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini initiated International Quds Day (Al-Quds Day) by declaring the last Friday of every Ramadan as an annual day of protest and solidarity with the Palestinians. The purpose is to express support for the oppressed people of Palestine.
In Nigeria, the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence, Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) has been observing International Quds Day processions for decades (starting from the early 1980s). Unfortunately, the illegal state of Israel has been using the Nigerian security architecture to attack free Palestine programmes and kill supporters of the Palestinian people in Nigeria.
In 2001, police attacked the International Quds procession in Kano and killed six followers of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H). Those that were killed include Shaheed Isa Zakariyya Gyallesu, Shaheed Ma’azu Lawan, Shaheed Abubakar Isa, Shaheed Saadu Usman, Shaheed Abubakar Uba Farawa and Shaheed Isa Ashiru.
In July 2009, during a Quds Day (Free Palestine) procession, Nigerian police opened fire on demonstrators in Zaria, Kaduna State. The procession was part of International Quds Day to express solidarity with Palestinians and oppose the Israeli occupation of Palestine. During the attack, three followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) were killed by the police. Similarly, on 25 July 2014, the Nigerian Army opened fire on an International Quds Day procession in Zaria, Kaduna State, and killed 34 people, including three sons of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), namely, Ahmad Ibraheem Zakzaky, Hamid Ibraheem Zakzaky and Mahmud Ibraheem Zakzaky.
Moreover, on 28 March 2025 (the last Friday of Ramadan), during the Quds Day procession in Abuja at Usman Bin Affan Mosque, the Presidential Guard Brigade opened fire on the Quds procession. As a result of the attack, 26 people were assassinated, and 180 people were imprisoned. Those imprisoned include a baby girl, women and children. And up to this moment, the Army and Police refused to release the corpses of those that were assassinated.
The public will recall that millions of people across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including the United States, have consistently demonstrated their support for the Palestinian struggle through mass rallies and advocacy efforts.
With respect to diplomatic ties with the illegal state of Israel, Bolivia formally severed diplomatic relations with Israel in November 2023, condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza as aggressive and disproportionate. Belize suspended diplomatic ties, recalling its ambassador, and called for a ceasefire. Other Latin American countries (Chile, Colombia) recalled ambassadors and made strong statements condemning the actions in Gaza.
In June 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that Israel immediately end the blockade of Gaza, open all border crossings, and ensure aid reaches civilians. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour: 149 in favour, 12 against, and 19 abstentions.
We reiterate our steady commitment to the defense of oppressed people everywhere and reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their legitimate struggle for freedom and justice.
Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara, Sokoto
For the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H).
8 October, 2025
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