Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and popularly known as Shiites, on Sunday staged a protest in parts of Niger State over reports of the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran after weeks of military buildup and threats from President Trump.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the goal of the operation is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Trump urged Iranians to capitalize on the attack as the “only chance for generations” to take over their government. Trump and Israeli officials later confirmed that Israel Defense Force (IDF) strikes on Tehran killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The development has sparked widespread reactions and protests across the world.
In Nigeria, dozens of IMN members mobilised shortly after news of Khamenei’s reported death began circulating on social media.
The protesters marched through parts of the state, chanting solidarity slogans while waving Iranian flags and placards bearing inscriptions such as “We Stand With Iran” and “Free Iran,” alongside other anti-US and anti-Israel messages.
The group described the reported assassination as an act of “global injustice and imperial aggression.”
In a statement circulated among supporters, the movement expressed deep sorrow over what it termed the martyrdom of the Iranian leader and pledged continued solidarity with the Iranian people.
“We strongly condemn the United States–Israel aggression against Iran. The blood of martyrs will not be shed in vain,” part of the statement read.
Chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” echoed during the procession as demonstrators vowed resistance against what they described as Western interference in Middle Eastern affairs.
The protest underscores the longstanding ideological alignment between IMN members and the Iranian government, a relationship that has often drawn scrutiny from Nigerian authorities.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has, over the years, organised rallies in solidarity with Iranian causes and frequently criticised US and Israeli foreign policies.
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