Members of the South-West chapter of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria 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, including 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 alleged that 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 told Leadership.
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 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 the ongoing Middle East conflict.
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. 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.
