Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Monday protested against the killing of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian General, by the United States.
Soleimani, who headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike authorised by the US President, Donald Trump, in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, on Friday.
Following Soleimani’s death, some members of the IMN – who are of the Shi’ite Islamic sect – which the late general belonged to, were seen over the weekend on social media protesting his killing in some parts of Northern Nigeria, carrying banners which had the inscription: “Death to America.”
Speculations were rife that the IMN may be planning a bigger protest to cause “massive public disturbances and sabotage”, thereby prompting Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police, to order all police commands and formations in the country to be on “red alert”.
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However, the Shi’ites marched the streets of Abuja on Monday chanting hate songs and carrying placards with inscription such as “Death To America”.
The protesters also demanded the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat who are currently detained.
During the protest, some of the IMN members set a US flag on fire and carried placards condemning the killing of the top Iranian general.
Read Also: Iran General’s Killing: Review Your Movement In Nigeria, US Warns Citizens
The US Embassy in Nigeria had in a travel advisory published on its website on Friday cautioned all American citizens currently residing in Nigeria to “review their personal security” following the assassination of Soleimani.
Although it admitted that it had “no specific threat information”, the embassy said US citizens must stay alert in public places, including schools, hospitals, government facilities, places of worship, tourist locations, and transportation stations.
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