Dare Babalola
Members of the South West leadership of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria staged a peaceful protest in Lagos State, condemning the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes attributed to the United States and Israel.
The protest took place in the early hours of Monday following a similar demonstration in Kano on Sunday.
Demonstrators in Lagos marched along the Maryland axis, carrying placards and banners that condemned the “invasion” of Iran and the targeted killing of the Iranian leader, describing it as an attack on a respected figure.
Chants and slogans expressed solidarity with Iran and strong opposition to the actions of the United States and Israel.
The gathering remained calm and orderly, with no immediate reports of violence or major disruptions or spread to other areas.
Some IMN leaders, speaking to newsmen, urged the Nigerian government to reject the presence of US troops in the country.
South West coordinator of IMN, Muftau Zakariya, 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.
Zakariya also 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.
“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,” he stated.
Another leader of the movement, Muhammadu Bashir, said the protest was a way of registering their concerns over the killing of Iranian leaders.
He said the protest would remain peaceful and would be sustained across the region.
The demonstration follows widespread outrage among Shi’ite communities globally after Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death on Saturday during a large-scale U.S.-Israeli operation against targets in Iran.
The strikes, which began on or around February 28, 2026, have escalated into ongoing military exchanges, with reports of significant casualties, retaliatory actions by Iran, and regional instability.
The Islamic Republic on Sunday announced 40 days of national mourning in honour of Khamenei, who ruled the Middle East nation for nearly four decades.
