DSS Arrests Osun-Based Islamic Leader Over Pro-Palestine Protest

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested an Osun State–based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, following a pro-Palestine protest organised in Iwo, Osun State, Western Post has reported.

Sheikh Molaasan is the leader of Ta’awunu Muslimeen, an Islamic group that says it is committed to religious teachings and advocacy for Muslim causes globally. His arrest reportedly followed the circulation of a viral video showing him and his followers staging a public demonstration in support of Palestine, which is currently under occupation by the State of Israel.

In the video, members of the group were seen raising the Palestinian flag and chanting religious slogans while pledging allegiance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. The footage, widely shared on social media platforms, triggered intense public debate and raised security concerns among commentators and analysts.

Particular attention has been drawn to the conduct of the march, including synchronised arm movements by participants, which some critics likened to a Nazi-style salute. The presence of children in the procession, chanting fervent religious slogans, further heightened anxiety, especially against the backdrop of Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges linked to religious extremism.

Ta’awunu Muslimeen has organised similar pro-Palestine activities in the past, including a public protest in 2018. However, observers say the scale and visibility of the recent march, coupled with its viral online spread, prompted heightened scrutiny from security agencies.

As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has not issued an official statement detailing the specific allegations against Sheikh Molaasan or whether formal charges will be filed. The arrest has continued to generate mixed reactions, with some Nigerians defending the right to peaceful protest and expression of solidarity, while others insist that any activity perceived as threatening public order or national security must be firmly addressed.

The development comes amid renewed sensitivity by security agencies to public demonstrations, particularly those with religious or ideological undertones, in a country grappling with insurgency and extremist violence.