Members of the South-West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos State, condemning the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during coordinated airstrikes 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 solidarity with Iran and denounced what they described as foreign aggression.
Reports by Iranian state and local media indicated that Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Saturday, February 28, in strikes targeting key figures of the Iranian leadership. Several other senior officials were also said to have died in the attacks.
Meanwhile, Jamaran News Agency reported that Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of the Iranian leader, succumbed to injuries sustained during the strikes at her residence in Tehran. She was said to have fallen into a coma before her death on March 2.
Lagos Protest
In Lagos, protesters marched through parts of the Maryland axis, carrying placards and banners condemning what they termed an “invasion” of Iran and the targeted assassination of its long-serving leader.
The South-West Coordinator of the IMN, Muftau Zakariya, stated that the protest was organised to express concern over what he described as sustained foreign interference in sovereign nations by the United States administration. He cited Venezuela as an example and urged the Federal Government to reject the presence of U.S. troops in Nigeria.
Zakariya also claimed that terrorism in Nigeria had intensified following alleged U.S. involvement in the country’s affairs, particularly referencing developments in Kwara State.
Another IMN leader, Muhammadu Bashir, said the protest was intended to register grievances over the reported killing of Iranian leaders, stressing that the movement remained committed to peaceful expression.
Security personnel monitored the procession in Lagos, but no breach of peace was recorded.
Northern States Join Demonstrations
In Kano State, IMN members gathered at the Fegge Central Mosque in Kofar Waika around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday for a mourning procession. Participants knelt on roads, temporarily halting traffic, carried white shrouds, lit candles, and distributed water and dates to bystanders.
Although the demonstration ended peacefully around 4:00 p.m., security agencies remained on standby amid concerns of further protests.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, confirmed heightened security measures across the state. He noted that while the police were not formally notified of the protest, intelligence reports prompted deployment of officers to ensure order.
“Our men escorted them to ensure the peaceful take-off of the protests and to avoid any unrest,” Bakori said, adding that security presence had been reinforced statewide.
In Bauchi, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, described the demonstration as peaceful and law-abiding. “Like every Nigerian individual or group, the Shi’ites have the right to peaceful demonstration. What we witnessed was peaceful, and no breakdown of law and order was recorded,” he stated.
An IMN representative in Bauchi, Ahmad Yashi, argued that the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader would exacerbate tensions rather than restore peace. He accused Western powers of fueling global unrest and reiterated the group’s solidarity with Iran.
In Yobe State, hundreds of Shi’ite Muslims marched through Potiskum, Bade and Nguru local government areas, carrying portraits of Khamenei and waving Iranian flags. Some demonstrators burned U.S. and Israeli flags in protest.
Abdullahi Hassan, one of the protest leaders, described the development as a painful moment for Shi’ites worldwide but urged followers to remain resolute.
U.S. Issues Security Alert
Amid escalating hostilities, the United States Government issued a security advisory to its citizens in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
In a statement, U.S. authorities urged Americans to remain vigilant following the launch of combat operations in Iran. The advisory warned of possible travel disruptions, including periodic airspace closures, and encouraged U.S. citizens to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for real-time updates.
The advisory followed reports confirming the death of Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials in the airstrikes.
In retaliation, Iran reportedly launched multiple missiles targeting U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, vowing to avenge the deaths of its Supreme Leader and other officials.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration was determined to eliminate members of the Iranian regime and called on Iranian citizens to assume control of their government after the military operations.
Despite the heightened tensions, protests across Nigerian states concluded without reported violence, with security agencies maintaining close surveillance to prevent escalation.
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