Shiite Protests Erupt in Nigeria Over Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Protests have broken out in parts of Nigeria following reports of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, sparking outrage among members of the country’s Shiite Muslim community.

Demonstrators, believed to be members and sympathisers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), took to the streets in some northern cities, condemning what they described as an attack on a revered religious and political figure. Protesters were seen carrying placards, chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, and demanding accountability over the incident.

Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was regarded by many Shiite Muslims worldwide as both a spiritual authority and a symbol of resistance against Western influence in the Middle East.

News of his reported death has triggered reactions across several countries with significant Shiite populations. In Nigeria, security operatives were deployed to monitor gatherings and prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Authorities have not officially confirmed any casualties linked to the demonstrations, though tensions remained high in some areas as of press time. Religious leaders also weighed in on the development.

Some clerics described Khamenei as a prominent figure in global Islamic leadership, while others urged calm and restraint among followers.

The IMN, which has a history of confrontations with Nigerian authorities, has long drawn ideological inspiration from Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The group was proscribed by the Nigerian government in 2019 following a series of deadly clashes with security forces.