Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as the Shi’ite group, on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Sokoto State over the ongoing war in Iran.
The demonstrators marched through parts of the Sokoto metropolis under the watch of security operatives who monitored the procession.
The protest, which began from the group’s meeting point in the city, was reported to have remained peaceful throughout the exercise.
A security official who monitored the procession said the group had earlier informed security agencies about the protest, prompting the deployment of personnel to maintain order.
He said, “They notified us of the movement and we have to provide security agents for them which is what you are seeing here.
“The protest was largely peaceful, as they moved from their meeting point to some part of the metropolis to voice out their opinion.”
The protest comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East following military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran, which have triggered hostilities across parts of the region and resulted in casualties in several countries.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a Shi’ite Islamic group with a significant following in northern Nigeria, has historically expressed solidarity with Iran and other Shi’ite communities globally.
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