The head of the Palestinian community in Nigeria, Ramzy Abu Ibrahim, has been detained by members of the Anti-Terrorism Squad in Abuja, according to sources close to his family.
The arrest occurred at his residence in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday. Ibrahim, a Palestinian-Nigerian citizen who has resided in the country for more than 35 years, is a known advocate for the Palestinian cause.
A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern over his whereabouts, saying: “He was arrested on Friday by the security operatives. They identified themselves as the Anti-Terrorism squad. This man is not a stranger in Nigeria. He has been here for over 35 years, and he went to school in this country.”
The relative suggested a possible motive, stating, “The only reason we might link to his arrest was his recent advocacy on the growing attacks on journalists and other vulnerable people in Gaza.”
Ibrahim has been increasingly vocal in recent weeks about Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, particularly those resulting in journalist casualties.
An official at the Palestinian Embassy in Nigeria confirmed awareness of the situation but noted that details remain scarce: “Yes, we heard about it and we are still trying to process the information.”
No Nigerian security agency has issued an official statement regarding Ibrahim’s arrest or current location as of Monday.
The detention comes amid reports of Nigeria’s military cooperation with Israel despite the latter’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The recent pact between the two countries was met with widespread condemnation from Nigerian clerics, religious bodies, academic scholars, CSOs and human rights activists.
According to Palestinian health officials, 15 people, including four journalists, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Monday. Among the victims were Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman; Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelance reporter with the Associated Press; Mohammed Salam of Al Jazeera; and Moaz Abu Taha, who worked with NBC.
Footage from al-Ghad TV also showed civil defence workers and journalists coming under fire while attempting to recover al-Masri’s body.
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