Hundreds of Muslim youths marched through the streets of Ibadan in southwest Nigeria brandishing placards saying "Bin Laden is our hero" to protest at the US airstrikes against Afghanistan, police said on today.
The protests yesterday came barely three days after Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met US President George W. Bush in Washington to pledge Nigeria's support for the US-led campaign in Afghanistan aimed at flushing out Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11th attacks.
Muslim youths numbering several hundreds held a rally in Ibadan where they said they were against American military action in Afghanistan and in support of bin Laden, police spokesman Mr Opeyemi Kujore said.
"The demonstration was not violent," he added.
Police reinforcements have been sent to Ibadan in anticipation of trouble ahead of a five-day crusade by controversial German preacher Mr Reinhard Bonnke that begins Wednesday, Mr Kujore said.
The youths condemned President Obasanjo's support for the US-led war in chants, burned American flags and vowed to avenge the death of innocent Afghans, according to newspaper reports.
Muslims in the world, including Nigeria, may be forced to avenge the death of our brothers in any manner desirable, a youth leader said addressing the rally, according to This Daynewspaper.
The youths waved placards saying "Osama, you are great", "Bin Laden is our hero" and "We are ready to die for Taliban," the newspaper said.
The youths marched to the British consulate and the regional government headquarters where they handed protest letters to officials, the paper said.
Anti-American protests in the northern city of Kano last month triggered Christian-Muslim clashes, which community leaders said killed hundreds.