Thousands of Muslims have staged protests in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, Gombe, Niger, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe and several other states across Nigeria against the United States and Israel attacks on Iran and the murder of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The protests were organized under the umbrella of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
The protesters waved Iranian flags, showing portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei, and held placards condemning both the United States and Israel, while extending solidarity to Iran.
The demonstrators dressed in black and with posters, marched from Fagge Juma’at Mosque to Kofar Waika to protest Khamenei’s assassination.
The Bauchi protest attracted hundreds of Muslims who marched through from Fudiyya Islamic School through the central market, the Emir’s Palace and Kobi Streets, condemning the killing of Khamenei.
Malam Abdullahi Bin Sa’id, led the protesters in Yobe, chanting solidarity songs, waving flags and placards bearing different inscriptions just as they condemned the killing of the Khamenei.
Similar processions took place in Gombe, Katsina, Lagos and Taraba States, also wearing black clothes and carrying posters of Khomeini.
In Gombe State, Muhammad Abbari, alleged that the United States is seeking to dominate Iran to control its resources and install a government favourable to its interests.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Zakzaky has expressed shock over the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, saying it was a devastating blow to Muslims worldwide, calling Khamenei a great pillar” whose absence will be felt across generations.
Zakzaky, on Monday said in a statement that “at this difficult moment, we have been shaken by the loss of a great pillar of our community, Sayyid Qa’id (RH). Without doubt, we are deeply shaken.”
He condemned both the US and Israel for targeting him and his family in their home.
The cleric condoled Imam Mahdi, senior religious authorities, the people of Iran, Muslims worldwide, and “all free people across the globe.”
He said, “this loss touches us all collectively; it is something that affects every one of us.”
US and Israeli forces, in a barrage of missile strikes on Saturday, killed Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, provoking a new wave of retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran on Sunday.
