Iran Conflict: Islamic Leaders Urge Nigerians To Shun Protests

Islamic clerics in Lagos have warned Nigerians against joining protests they do not fully understand, cautioning that demonstrations can easily be hijacked by violent actors.

The warning was issued by the League of Chief Imams during the 2026 Ramadan Tafsir/Iftar programme at Lagos House, Ikeja.

Speaking at the event, the National Missioner and Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, said good intentions alone cannot prevent protests from turning violent.

According to the Lagos State Government, the warning was directed particularly at Nigerians protesting in solidarity with Iran after the killing of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, during United States–Israeli strikes.

Members of the South-West chapter of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria had staged protests in Lagos on Monday over the killing, raising fears of possible violence.

Ahmad urged Nigerians to avoid demonstrations they do not fully understand, warning that others could exploit such gatherings to cause destruction.

He referenced the October 2020 EndSARS protests, which began as a campaign against police brutality but later turned violent after hoodlums hijacked the demonstrations.

The cleric warned that a repeat of such unrest, this time linked to a foreign conflict, could be disastrous for the country.

He also cautioned that the Middle East crisis could push petrol prices higher in Nigeria, possibly reaching N2,000 per litre due to disruptions in global oil supply.

Ahmad urged Nigerians and religious leaders to prioritise prayer and peace during the Ramadan and Lent seasons rather than actions that could fuel tension.