**Don't Join the Chaos, Nigerians Warned** Imagine you're walking down the street, caught up in the fervor of a protest you know little about. You join in, fueled by good intentions, but what if things take a turn for the worse? That's the warning being sounded by top Islamic clerics in Lagos, cautioning Nigerians against jumping into the fray without fully understanding the cause. At a recent Ramadan Tafsir/Iftar programme, the League of Chief Imams issued a stern warning, urging Nigerians not to be drawn into a war that's not their own. Their message was particularly aimed at those who had taken to the streets in solidarity with Iran after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a United States-Israeli strike. The clerics are worried that the protests could degenerate into violence, echoing the chaos of the 2020 EndSARS protests, which ravaged Lagos and other states, causing billions of naira in losses. They're urging Nigerians to think carefully before joining any protest, lest they become part of the problem. "We're not asking you to be indifferent to the suffering of others," said Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, National Missioner and Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria. "But we must be wise and not join a protest we don't fully understand. We're still recovering from the devastation of EndSARS. Let's not cause further disruption." The clerics are drawing from Islamic scripture, invoking the concept of fitnah - civil strife or chaos - to warn against the dangers of unrest. They're urging Nigerians to be part of the solution, not the problem. In a country still grappling with the aftermath of the EndSARS protests, the warning comes as a timely reminder. As Nigerians, we must be mindful of the consequences of our actions, especially when it comes to joining protests. Let's take a step back, think carefully, and avoid becoming part of the chaos. In the words of Sheikh Ahmad, "We are not part of the solution if we are part of the problem." Let's heed this wise counsel and choose peace over chaos.