Israel-Iran War: Not Our War, Nothing To Celebrate
By Maryam Abdulmalik
No one in Nigeria should be celebrating the war between Israel and Iran. Let’s be clear: this is not a religious war. It is not Islam versus Judaism. It is not a holy war. And it is certainly not a war Nigerians should emotionally invest in as if it validates or invalidates their faith.
We must be careful not to reduce complex geopolitical struggles to simplified narratives that pit religions against one another. That’s exactly how people are manipulated — through fear, division, and ignorance.
This war, at its core, is about something far more fundamental: the right of a nation to defend its sovereignty, and the right of its people to live in dignity, free from foreign aggression and domination.
Whether it’s Iran today, Iraq yesterday, or Libya the day before, there is a pattern. Powerful nations exploiting conflicts, sponsoring assassinations, violating borders, and then selling the world a carefully scripted story: “We’re protecting freedom.” “We’re stopping terror.” “We’re defending democracy.”
But look closer, and you’ll see the same things over and over again:
Regime change disguised as liberation.
Economic warfare through sanctions and blockades.
Entire generations traumatized by bombs, drones, and foreign boots on their soil.
And we must ask ourselves — who benefits? Who suffers?
For Nigerians, and indeed all of Africa, this moment should be one of sober reflection. We know what it feels like to have our borders drawn by foreign hands. We know the pain of being misunderstood, misrepresented, and manipulated for others’ gain.
So why should we celebrate the destruction of another nation’s sovereignty? Why should we cheer for war when we’ve spent decades trying to rebuild from the scars left by colonial and post-colonial interference?
This is not our war. It is not our fight. But it is a mirror: a reminder of how power is wielded in today’s world and how easily narratives are shaped to turn victims into villains and invaders into liberators.
Let us resist the urge to view global conflict through narrow, emotional lenses. Let us stay grounded in truth and justice. I see Christians writing that the North and Muslims are celebrating. I see people from south east writing something similar. Some Northerners are happy Iran retaliated. E be like say una head no correct. There is nothing to celebrate here. Instead we should gear up for a war that might not end soon.
And above all, let us stand on the side of sovereignty, dignity, and peace — not propaganda, power games, or blind loyalty to sides that care nothing for our future.
