Shi’ite Members Protest in Yobe Over Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria staged peaceful street protests in Potiskum and Nguru, Yobe State, on Tuesday, condemning the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Protesters moved through major routes in both towns carrying Iranian flags and large portraits of Khamenei, while chanting messages of solidarity with Iran. Participants said the demonstrations were organised to denounce what they described as an unjust killing and to demand wider international condemnation.

In Potiskum, local leaders of the movement addressed journalists and said the action was intended to register their anger over the circumstances of Khamenei’s death. Abdullahi Hassan, identified as the group’s leader in Potiskum, said members believed the development represented a direct assault on the dignity of Muslims across the world. He said the movement would continue to speak out against actions it viewed as violations of national sovereignty and attacks on the Islamic world.

In Nguru, organisers delivered a similar message. They described the killing as a serious breach of international norms and called on countries they termed peace-loving nations to publicly condemn the incident. One organiser said members were mourning the loss of a leader they regarded as a major spiritual figure and would continue peaceful advocacy around the issue.

The Yobe demonstrations followed similar reactions by Shi’ite groups in other parts of Nigeria after recent events involving Iran’s leadership. Iranian state media had reported that Khamenei died on Saturday during a large-scale United States-Israel military operation targeting sites in Iran. The strikes, said to have begun around February 28, 2026, have since developed into continuing exchanges, with reports of casualties, retaliatory operations by Iran, and broader regional tension.

Authorities in Iran also announced 40 days of national mourning in honour of Khamenei, who had led the country for close to four decades. In Yobe, protesters maintained that their gatherings remained peaceful and focused on drawing public attention to what they called a global moral and political issue.

During the procession, participants in both Potiskum and Nguru carried placards, repeated calls for international attention, and insisted their demonstration was lawful and non-violent. Community representatives said their message was directed at both Nigerian authorities and the wider international community.