Members of the South-West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos State over the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in coordinated strikes allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
The demonstration in Lagos followed similar protests on Sunday in Kano, Yobe, Gombe and Bauchi states, where members of the Shi’ite group expressed outrage over the development.
According to Iranian media reports, Khamenei was said to have been killed in early morning strikes on February 28. His wife, Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, was also reported to have died on March 2 after slipping into a coma from injuries sustained during the attacks in Tehran. Several other senior Iranian officials were reportedly killed as well.
In Lagos, protesters marched through parts of the Maryland area carrying placards and banners condemning what they described as an invasion of Iran and the assassination of its long-serving leader.
The South-West Coordinator of the IMN, Muftau Zakariya, said the protest was organised to show solidarity with Iran and to denounce what he termed repeated foreign interference in sovereign nations.
He insisted the protest would remain peaceful and could continue across the South-West region. Zakariya also urged the Nigerian government to reject any presence of United States troops in the country, alleging that foreign involvement had worsened insecurity in parts of Nigeria.
Another IMN leader, Muhammadu Bashir, said the demonstration was meant to register their concerns over the killing of Iranian leaders while urging members to remain calm and law-abiding.
In Gombe, an IMN leader, Muhammad Abbari, described the reported attack on Khamenei as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” stressing that their action was purely peaceful and not intended to incite violence.
Security personnel monitored the Lagos procession, and no breach of peace was recorded. In Kano, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, said the police had received intelligence about the planned protests and deployed officers to ensure order.
“Our men escorted them to ensure the peaceful take-off of the protests and to avoid any unrest,” he said, adding that security had been heightened across the state.
In Bauchi, police authorities confirmed that demonstrations were conducted peacefully without any breakdown of law and order. Meanwhile, in Yobe State, hundreds of protesters marched through Potiskum, Bade and Nguru local government areas, carrying portraits of Khamenei and waving Iranian flags. Some demonstrators burnt U.S. and Israeli flags during the procession.
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As tensions escalated internationally, the United States government issued a security advisory urging its citizens in Nigeria and other countries to remain vigilant following military operations involving Iran.
In the advisory, U.S. authorities warned of possible travel disruptions and urged Americans to follow updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Citizens were also advised to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for security notifications.
Reports indicate that Iran has since launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, vowing to avenge the death of its Supreme Leader and other officials.
The unfolding developments have heightened global tensions, with fears of a broader regional conflict growing by the day.
