Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Friday staged a rally in Abuja to mourn the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The demonstration marked the group’s first public gathering in the Federal Capital Territory since Khamenei was reportedly killed on February 26 during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
The rally coincided with the annual Quds Day and attracted thousands of Shiite Muslims who gathered around the National Mosque in Abuja.
Participants carried banners, waved flags and chanted slogans condemning Israeli actions against Palestinians.
Ahead of the rally, authorities heightened security in several parts of Abuja amid fears that demonstrations could disrupt activities in the city. The United States Embassy in Nigeria also temporarily suspended operations due to concerns about possible protests.
Speaking with Punch, the Chairman of the Media Forum of the Islamic Movement, Ammar Rajab, said the group had observed Quds Day in Nigeria for more than 40 years.
He explained that the annual event usually features lectures, public discussions, processions and awareness campaigns.
Rajab added that the 2026 observance carried added significance due to the worsening humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories.
According to him, the gathering also served to honour Khamenei’s legacy and reiterate the movement’s call for the liberation of Palestine.
He, however, denied reports that security operatives attacked members of the group during the rally, insisting the event began and ended peacefully without police intervention.
Meanwhile, some residents reported traffic congestion along the Nyanya–Mararaba route as security personnel mounted checkpoints and conducted vehicle searches following the announcement of the rally.
The group also organised a separate demonstration in Bauchi in support of Palestine and Iran.
Speaking with Saturday Punch, the movement’s leader in the state, Ahmad Yashi, said the protest formed part of global activities marking Quds Day, observed on the last Friday of Ramadan.
Yashi maintained that demonstrations organised by the group are usually peaceful, attributing previous clashes with authorities to misunderstandings about the movement’s activities.
He also reaffirmed the group’s support for Iran in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, warning that the killing of Khamenei could further heighten tensions rather than resolve the crisis.
Yashi further criticised Western powers, accusing them of contributing to global instability, while reiterating solidarity with Palestinians.
He added that members of the movement in Bauchi had earlier held a peaceful demonstration in support of Iran, stressing that Muslims should stand either with what he described as the oppressed or the oppressors.