Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, staged protests across several northern states on Sunday following reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli airstrike. Demonstrations were reported in Gombe, Niger, Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, and Sokoto, with protesters displaying placards condemning the attack and chanting slogans in solidarity with Iran.
In Gombe, IMN members marched peacefully from their religious centre in Tudun Wadan Pantami after prayers. Placards denouncing the airstrikes were prominently displayed, and Sheikh Muhammad Abbari urged followers to remain calm, law-abiding, and to express their grievances peacefully. Security operatives were deployed across the city to monitor the procession.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, and Niger states, where participants waved Iranian flags and carried messages such as “We Stand With Iran.” In Sokoto, other Muslim groups also joined protests, condemning the killing and expressing solidarity with Iran. The IMN described the strike as Western interference in Middle Eastern affairs and vowed continued support for Iran.
In response to the protests, the Nigeria Police Force ordered heightened surveillance nationwide. Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, directed state commissioners to intensify intelligence gathering, particularly in the North Central, North East, and North West zones, and emphasized proactive policing and collaboration with religious and traditional leaders to prevent the importation of foreign conflicts or sectarian tensions.
Islamic groups such as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the Ummah Movement condemned the killing while urging Nigerians to remain peaceful. Kaduna-based scholar Ahmad Gumi highlighted the broader implications of Khamenei’s death, and the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait advised citizens in Kuwait and Bahrain to remain calm, stay alert, and follow local safety directives amid rising Middle East tensions.
