The League of Chief Imams has cautioned Nigerians, particularly residents of Lagos State, against engaging in protests or acts capable of disrupting the nation’s fragile peace over the ongoing Middle East crisis involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The religious leaders warned that global conflicts must not be allowed to trigger local unrest, urging citizens to exercise restraint and prioritize national stability.
The appeal was made during the 2026 Ramadan Tafsir/Iftar programme held at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday night. The intervention followed protests staged in parts of the country, particularly in Lagos, by members of the South-West chapter of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria over the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during recent United States-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Speaking on behalf of the League, the National Missioner and Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Abdulrahman Ahmad, called for calm and sober reflection, stressing that Nigeria must not be drawn into conflicts that do not directly concern it.
He urged Nigerians to use the sacred periods of Ramadan and Lent to pray for peace rather than embark on protests or demonstrations.
“Beware of fitnah; when it happens, it will not only affect those who are responsible for it, but it will also affect all of us. The crisis in the Middle East is fitnah. This is a time for prayer, a time to be part of peace; this is not a time for protest and demonstration,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmad warned that the ripple effects of the Middle East crisis were already being felt globally, including in Nigeria’s economy, particularly in fuel prices.
“I told the congregation they should prepare for an increase in fuel prices. If you have refilled your vehicle’s tank, you will know how much petrol is being sold per litre. Chances are that it could even go further. It could even hit N2,000 per litre. It may even be worse than that, except we face it with prayer,” he added.
While expressing sadness over the loss of lives and destruction of property in the affected countries, the cleric maintained that Nigerians should avoid propaganda and resist being used as instruments of unrest.
Referencing the aftermath of the 2020 EndSARS protests, which led to widespread destruction in Lagos and other parts of the country, he warned that the nation is still grappling with the consequences and cannot afford another round of instability.
“Don’t join a protest that you don’t know anything about. Remember that the country is still dealing with the effect of EndSARS protests. Your intention may be pure, but do you know about the next person who will hide under that and cause mayhem?” he cautioned.
The League further urged clerics across the country to use their pulpits to preach unity, responsibility and spiritual reflection, stressing that the sanctity of Ramadan should inspire peace rather than agitation.
The 2026 Ramadan Tafsir/Iftar programme was attended by Islamic clerics, Muslim faithful, government officials, civil servants and journalists, all united in prayers for peace in Nigeria and across the world.
