- Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria staged a peaceful protest in Lagos over the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- The demonstrators condemned what they described as an invasion of Iran and the strikes by the United States and Israel
- The IMN leaders urged the Nigerian government to reject U.S. military presence and criticised foreign interventions
Members of the South-West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) took to the streets of Lagos on Monday, March 2, in a peaceful demonstration to protest the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel.
The protest, which started in the early hours of Monday, March 2, around the Maryland area of Lagos, comes a day after similar demonstrations were held in Kano State on Sunday, March 1.
Marching with placards and banners, the demonstrators denounced what they described as an “invasion” of Iran and the targeted assassination of the long-serving Iranian leader.
Chants and slogans voiced their support for Iran and strong opposition to the actions of the U.S. and Israel.
According to reports, the gathering remained peaceful and orderly, with no immediate reports of violence or major disruptions.
Some IMN leaders, speaking with journalists, also urged the Nigerian government to reject the presence of U.S. troops in the country.
South-West coordinator of IMN, Muftau Zakariya, said the protest was organised to highlight what he described as “deep concerns over the sustained invasion of sovereign nations,” citing recent U.S. interventions as part of a broader pattern.
He also claimed that terrorism in Nigeria has increased since the involvement of the U.S. government, saying heightened attacks in Kwara State followed what he described as U.S. interference in the country’s affairs.
“I said to you that nothing good is coming from the U.S. intervention. It is only interested in their economic gains and not minding the consequences thereafter,” Zakariya said.
Another leader of the movement, Muhammadu Bashir, said the demonstration was a way of registering their concerns over the killing of Iranian leaders, adding that the protest would remain peaceful and be sustained across the region.
The demonstration reflects wider outrage among Shi’ite communities globally after Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death on Saturday, February 28, during the U.S.–Israeli military strikes on Iran.
In response to the strikes, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks, and the situation has escalated into broader regional conflict.