Islamic group protests in Lagos over Khamenei’s death

2026-03-02 - 16:27

By Olasunkanmi Akoni Members of the South‐West chapter of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) took to the streets of Lagos on Monday to protest the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint United States–Israel military strike on Iran. The demonstrators, who gathered around the Maryland area, chanted slogans condemning what they described as foreign intervention and the death of Khamenei, demanding global condemnation of U.S. intervention in sovereign nations. The protest heightened tensions in the area as many passersby avoided the vicinity. Despite the large turnout, there were no reports of violence and the rally ended peacefully. IMN’s South‐West Coordinator, Muftau Zakariya, told reporters the demonstration was organised to express concern over what he called sustained invasions of sovereign states by the United States. He cited other international incidents as part of his concerns. The protest in Lagos follows similar demonstrations in other parts of Nigeria, including Kano and Niger States, where members of the Shi’a‐aligned group also marched to denounce the U.S.–Israeli strikes and mourn Khamenei’s reported death. National security agencies had deployed officers to key points across Lagos ahead of the rally to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Observers say the protests in Nigeria are part of a broader wave of demonstrations by pro‐Iranian and Shiite groups following the reported killing of Khamenei in ongoing Middle East conflict.