Dalena Reporters l Sunday, March 1, 2026
MINNA, NIGER STATE — Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), commonly referred to as Shiites, took to the streets of Niger State on Sunday to protest the alleged killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following reports that he died during a coordinated military offensive by the United States and Israel.
Dozens of protesters, responding to social media reports of Khamenei’s death, marched through parts of the state waving Iranian flags and bearing placards and slogans expressing solidarity with Iran and condemnation of the attack. Demonstrators carried messages including “We Stand With Iran,” “Free Iran,” and chanted against what they described as “global injustice and imperial aggression.”
The protest in Niger State reflects the broader shockwaves sent across the global Shiite community after the reported killing of Khamenei, a transformational figure who had led Iran for decades. IMN’s mobilisation — led by activists aligned with the movement’s founder, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky — underscores longstanding ideological and religious ties between many Nigerian Shiites and Iran’s political establishment.
Participants criticised the United States and Israel for what they termed an unjust act against a sovereign religious and national leader and expressed determination to support what they described as resistance against perceived Western interference in Middle Eastern affairs. Slogans such as “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” were reportedly raised during the procession, which attracted supporters from communities around the state capital.
Nigeria’s IMN has a history of organising solidarity rallies on foreign policy issues involving Iran and has frequently used street demonstrations to voice opposition to Western policies in the Middle East, often drawing both public attention and scrutiny from Nigerian authorities.
At this time, international confirmation of Khamenei’s death varies — various global outlets and Iranian state media have reported on the situation with mixed and evolving details and protests like the one in Niger State illustrate the transnational impact of sudden geopolitical developments on religious and political communities far beyond the Middle East.