The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the alleged arrest of Ramzi Abu Ibrahim, President of the Palestinian Community in Nigeria, at his Abuja home last Friday. MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, has demanded Ramzi’s immediate and unconditional release or arraignment in a court of law, citing concerns that the arrest may be linked to Nigeria’s security alliance with Israel, which MURIC had previously warned posed a security threat to Muslim leaders in Nigeria.
The full statement reads: “The president of the Palestinian Community in Nigeria, Mr. Ramzi Abu Ibrahim, was allegedly arrested on Friday, 22nd July, 2025 at his Abuja home. He has not been seen since. Neither has he been able to contact members of his family
“MURIC frowns at this Gestapo style of arrest. In particular, it will be remembered that we raised alarm when the Federal Government went into security alliance with Israel. We said the alliance posed serious security threat to Muslim leaders in Nigeria. This is perhaps one of the results of the deal with Israel.*
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ramzi. Any security agency detaining him should release him or arraign him in a properly constituted court of jurisdiction.
“Detaining a suspect beyond the stipulated 48 hours without presenting him before a court of law is unlawful, illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional. Mr. Ramzi is, reportedly, a citizen. His fundamental human rights should be respected.
“If Ramzi’s citizenship is not in contention, detaining him beyond the stipulated 48 hours is an infringement on his right to freedom of movement. This stands in contradistinction to Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says inter alia, ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria…’*
“The right of citizens to move freely from state to state is a privilege and it serves as immunity of national citizenship. Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) also guarantees the right of citizens to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
“Ditto for Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s rights.
“We assert clearly, unequivocally and emphatically that the closer the Nigerian security agencies are to these laws the more civilized the Nigerian society will be and the more humane our government.”
