Contents
Background
After the Nigerian state killed 26 citizens at a peaceful al-Quds Day event in Abuja, and arrested 274, demand that they are released and are provided with the attention that is needed.
Summary
On the 28th March 2025, the Nigerian Guards Brigade attacked a peaceful Quds Day procession in Abuja unprovoked, deliberately using live rounds against unarmed protestors. The number of deaths at the time was listed at 26, with another dying later in police custody. As well as the killing, the Presidential Guard also arrested many more, with 274 still in custody. This number includes 60 children, and 11 citizens who are in need of critical medical treatment. These were handed over to the Nigerian police, who later refused to release either the arrestees or the bodies of those who were killed, whilst reports showed that those in need of medical attention had not received it, reportedly resulting in the death of at least one of them.
Violent unprovoked attacks against peaceful protests and religious processions by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, led by Sheikh Zakzaky, have often taken place often in the past, including the infamous 2015 Zaria Massacre, in which at least 1,000 people were killed, including 347 bodies being dumped in a mass grave by the perpetrators. Although the attacks seemed to have become abated since the accension of Bolu Tinubu to the presidency, this recent attack appears to show Nigeria returning to previous levels of violence against peaceful followers of Shiekh Zakzaky.
Action Required
Write to the Nigerian president demanding that he stops attacks against followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
IHRC has also written to the president, more information available here
More information on our Nigeria campaign is available here
Donate to the victims through IHRC Trust (Registered charity) here
Model Letter
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
HE President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu
Office of the President
The Aso Rock Presidential Villa
Yakubu Gowon Crescent
The Three Arms Zone
Asokoro
Abuja, FCT
Nigeria
[Date of letter]
Dear President Bola Tinubu,
Re: The 2025 Quds Day Massacre
Assalamu-alaikum,
I pray that this letter finds you in good health and spirits.
As you will no doubt be aware, the peaceful annual al-Quds Day procession in Abuja at the end of Ramadan was subjected to a brutal attack by soldiers using live ammunition leading to the killing of at least 26 demonstrators and the continued detainment of a further 274, including at least 60 children, with many credible reports of protestors being violently beaten using heavy sticks.
At least one of the deceased is believed to have died while in the custody of the FCT Police Command. Many of the injured have been left with life-threatening and life-changing injuries.
This attack came after a public campaign of vilification by federal security authorities leading up to Al-Quds Day which in retrospect appears to have been intended to fabricate a pretext for the bloody attack, suggesting it was pre-planned, targeting the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
Human rights organisations such as Islamic Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International have also condemned this attack.
Regular state violence against the movement was a feature of the previous administration of your predecessor Dr Buhari, but had appeared to have abated since you assumed the presidency.
I humbly request that you launch an immediate independent investigation into the attack by security forces on March 28th with a view to identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Address
HE President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu
Office of the President
The Aso Rock Presidential Villa
Yakubu Gowon Crescent
The Three Arms Zone
Asokoro
Abuja, FCT
Nigeria
Alternatively, you can contact him by email at info@statehouse.gov.ng
