Members of the South-West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria staged a peaceful protest in Lagos State, denouncing the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes by the United States and Israel.
The development comes as Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader, reportedly died from injuries sustained during recent United States and Israeli strikes at her residence in Tehran.
According to the Jamaran News Agency on Monday, Bagherzadeh had slipped into a coma after being injured in the attacks but succumbed to her wounds on March 2.
Her death comes amid reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the early hours of Saturday, February 28, during coordinated US and Israeli strikes.
Several other senior figures of the Iranian regime were also said to have been killed in the attack.
The protest in Lagos on Monday follows similar demonstrations by the Shi’ites in Kano, Yobe, Gombe, and Bauchi states on Sunday.
In Lagos, the demonstrators marched through parts of the Maryland axis, carrying placards and banners denouncing what they described as an “invasion” of Iran and the targeted assassination of the long-serving Iranian leader.
South-West coordinator of IMN, Muftau Zakariya, said the protest would remain peaceful and continue across the South-West geopolitical zone.
The protesters marched, chanting solidarity with Iran and strong opposition to the actions of the United States and Israel.
He said that the protest was organised to express their concerns about what he called sustained invasions of sovereign nations by the United States administration, citing Venezuela as a recent example of foreign interference.
He also urged the Federal Government to reject the presence of US troops in the country.
Zakariya claimed that terrorism in Nigeria has increased since the involvement of the US government. He said heightened and sustained attacks in Kwara State followed what he described as US involvement in the country’s affairs.
Another leader of the movement, Muhammadu Bashir, said the protest was to register their concerns over the killing of Iranian leaders.
Recall that in the protest in Gombe, an IMN leader, Muhammad Abbari, described the attack on Khamenei as “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Abbari said, “We strongly condemn any attack on a religious and political leader of such standing.
“However, we urge our followers to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding in the expression of their concerns.”
He emphasised that the protest was organised to demonstrate solidarity and not to incite violence.
“Our action today is purely peaceful. We are here to register our grievances and show solidarity, nothing more,” Abbari added.
Security personnel were observed monitoring parts of the metropolis during the procession.
However, no breach of peace was recorded as the protest ended without incident.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, has heightened security measures across the state following protests by members of the IMN.
The CP told The PUNCH that the Shi’ite group did not notify the police of their planned demonstration, but that the command got intelligence of the protests and quickly deployed their personnel to the scenes.
He added, “Our men escorted them to ensure the peaceful take-off of the protests and to avoid any unrest. You know it was evening, people are fasting.”
He further disclosed that the police command had deployed officers across the state and continued to monitor their movements.
Members of the IMN staged a procession on Sunday at the Fegge Central Mosque in Kofar Waika around 2.30 pm to mourn the reported killing of Khamenei.
The demonstration, initially peaceful, saw participants kneeling on roads, halting traffic, carrying white shrouds, lighting candles, and distributing water and dates to bystanders.
Although the protest ended peacefully around 4.00 pm, security agencies remained on standby for potential follow-up demonstrations.
The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa, added that the command was monitoring developments and liaising with community leaders to prevent escalation.
In Bauchi, the PPRO, Nafiu Habib, in an interview with The PUNCH, affirmed the demonstration on Sunday in the state was conducted without any reported incident.
“Like every Nigerian individual or group, the Shi’ites have the right to peaceful demonstration. We are aware that yesterday they conducted the same in Bauchi,” Habib said.
“What we witnessed was peaceful, and up till now, we have not recorded any breakdown of law and order,” he added.
Speaking on IMN in Bauchi, Ahmad Yashi said the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader would not bring peace but would rather aggravate the situation.
“We are with Iran in heart and soul. They are targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader to make the country surrender, but they are mistaken. The Supreme Leader, as a religious authority, is among those dousing tensions,” he said.
Yashi described Islam as a religion of peace but blamed Western powers for what he termed persistent global unrest.
“Islam is a peaceful religion, but the West is the problem. They are selfish and want everyone to bow to them. This will not happen; those days are gone,” he added.
He further disclosed that members of the movement in Bauchi staged the peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Iran.
“Yesterday, we conducted a peaceful demonstration in support of Iran, and every Muslim must take a side in this war. You are either with the righteous or with the oppressors,” Yashi stated.
Also in Yobe, hundreds of Shi’ite Muslims marched through the streets of the local government areas of Potiskum, Bade, and Nguru on Sunday to mourn the death of their spiritual leader in Iran.
Demonstrators carried portraits of Khamenei, waved Iranian flags, and burnt the flags of the United States and Israel in a dramatic display of grief and defiance.
Abdullahi Hassan, one of the protest leaders, told the crowd, “We are shocked and devastated over the killing of our leader. This is a painful moment not only for us in Yobe but for Shiites across the world. Yet we will not be broken. We will continue to stand firm, and our voices will not be silenced. This is the beginning of our victory, and we will honour the legacy of our leader in every action we take.”
He added, “We burn the flags of the United States and Israel not out of hatred but to show that we will never bow to oppression. The sons and daughters of Khamenei remain strong, committed, and united. Our faith is our strength, and our resolve is unshakable.”
The protests lasted for several hours across the three local government areas as demonstrators marched through the streets, chanting slogans, holding placards, and waving pictures of Khamenei.
US issues alert
Meanwhile, the United States Government has issued a security alert to its citizens in Nigeria following escalating hostilities between the US and Iran.
In a statement on Monday, the US authorities warned Americans abroad to remain vigilant in the wake of ongoing military operations involving Iran.
“Following the launch of U.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” the advisory stated.
The alert noted that Americans could experience travel disruptions due to periodic airspace closures linked to the unfolding crisis.
The US Department of State advised citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.
It also urged them to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive timely security updates and to follow the ‘US Department of State Security Updates for U.S. Citizens’ WhatsApp channel for further information.
The advisory follows reports by Iranian state and local media confirming the death of Ali Khamenei, after airstrikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
Several other high-ranking Iranian officials were also said to have been killed in the strikes.
In retaliation, Iran has reportedly launched multiple missiles targeting U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, vowing to avenge the death of its Supreme Leader and other regime officials.
US President Donald Trump, speaking in a live broadcast while the attacks were ongoing on Saturday, said he was determined to eliminate members of the Iranian regime.
He also called on Iranian citizens to take control of their government once military operations were concluded.
