Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) staged a protest in Lagos on Monday to condemn reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in airstrikes by the United States and Israel.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered near the Maryland area in the early hours, chanting slogans denouncing the strikes and calling for international condemnation of what they described as foreign intervention in sovereign nations. The incident has heightened tensions in parts of the city.
IMN’s South West coordinator, Muftau Zakariya, told local media that the protest aimed to register concern over what the group termed sustained military incursions by the U.S. administration. He referenced recent international conflicts to underscore his point, although specific claims about those events were not independently verified.
Protests by IMN and affiliated groups have taken place in other parts of Nigeria, including Kano and Niger State, following similar reports of Khamenei’s death, despite conflicting accounts from global authorities and limited independent verification. In those demonstrations, participants carried Iranian flags, portraits of the late leader and chanted slogans against the United States and Israel.
Critics of the protest in Lagos expressed concern about possible local security implications, given the broader national and international context of heightened emotions over the reported strike. Officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the demonstration.
The reported killing of Ayatollah Khamenei has triggered reactions worldwide, with protests and official statements emerging in several countries amid broader geopolitical tensions.
Observers note that the IMN’s history of public demonstrations often reflects its ideological alignment with Shia causes abroad, and its activities sometimes draw scrutiny from Nigerian authorities due to past clashes between the group and security forces.
As the situation continues to develop, both local reactions and international responses to the reported strike are likely to evolve, with implications for security and public sentiment in Nigeria and beyond.
