Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) staged a demonstration in Lagos on Monday to express their opposition to the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in military strikes attributed to the United States and Israel.
Protesters gathered around the Maryland axis in the early hours of the day, denouncing what they described as foreign aggression and calling for an international outcry against the intervention. Observers said participants chanted provocative slogans and demanded global condemnation of what they termed “American intervention in sovereign nations”.
The protest, which mirrored similar rallies by IMN members in other parts of Nigeria, heightened anxiety in the local area as demonstrators voiced solidarity with the Iranian people following the news of Khamenei’s death. Iranian state media and other outlets have since confirmed the leader’s killing in the strikes, which sparked widespread reaction across the Muslim world.
Muftau Zakariya, the South West coordinator of the IMN, told Leadership Newspaper that the demonstration aimed to raise awareness of what he described as sustained incursions by foreign powers into sovereign states. He drew parallels between recent events in Iran and other instances of perceived foreign interference.
“I said to you that nothing good is coming from the US intervention. It is only interested in their economic gains and not minding the consequences thereafter,” Zakariya said, expressing concern over what he characterised as a continuing pattern of western involvement in the internal affairs of other nations.
While details about the protest in Lagos were limited at the time of reporting, similar demonstrations by members of the Islamic Movement have taken place in other Nigerian states, including Kano and Niger, where supporters carried Iranian flags and placards and voiced opposition to the strikes.
Across the Muslim world, reactions to Khamenei’s reported killing have varied, with large-scale protests unfolding in several countries. In Srinagar, demonstrators rallied against the attack, despite police efforts to disperse crowds. Meanwhile, in other regions, millions have taken to the streets to mourn or denounce the violence, underscoring the global reach of the response to the unfolding conflict.
The situation remains fluid, and authorities in Nigeria have not issued official statements on the protests or related security measures. Local security officials continue to monitor developments as the international crisis rolls out on multiple fronts.