Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, have staged a protest at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday to express their support for Iran.
The group had attended the regular Friday prayer at the mosque before launching the demonstration. The protesters began shouting “Allahu Akbar” and quickly gathered in numbers within the mosque premises.
Within minutes, the crowd reportedly grew to around 200 people as they began chanting slogans condemning Israel and the United States while expressing support for Iran.
They chanted “shame to America”, “shame to Israel”, and “we support Iran”. The group also staged similar protests at Idimota Central Mosque in Lagos and on the streets of Kaduna and Bauchi. The protest comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the latest escalation of conflict in the region.
Last week, Shi’ites staged protests in several states over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Demonstrators were seen in Lagos, Kano, Niger state, Sokoto, Gombe and Kaduna condemning the joint military action by the United States and Israel, which led to Khamenei’s death alongside members of his family. Similar protests were reported in Bauchi and Yobe state.
The protesters waved Iranian flags, displayed portraits of Khamenei, and carried placards denouncing both the United States and Israel while expressing solidarity with Iran.