Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites, on Friday, November 8, staged a massive protest in Kano against recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to invade Nigeria under the guise of combating terrorism.
The demonstrators, who flooded major streets in Kano metropolis, carried placards and banners denouncing Trump’s statement and rejecting his claim that Christians in Nigeria were facing genocide. Some protesters were seen dragging and burning the American flag, while others displayed effigies of the US president chanting anti-American slogans.
Trump had recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging that terrorist groups were carrying out widespread persecution of Christians. He warned that if the Nigerian government failed to curb the violence, he would deploy U.S. troops to “stop the killings,” even directing the U.S. Department of War to prepare a potential military intervention plan.
In a swift reaction, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria described Trump’s remarks as “false, provocative, and dangerous,” accusing Western nations of spreading propaganda aimed at inciting religious tension in the country.
“Our movement has always stood for peace, justice, and unity among Nigerians,” one of the protesters said. “What Nigeria is facing today is not a religious war but the result of corruption, bad leadership, and political greed.”
The protest caused heavy traffic along major roads in Kano, though it ended peacefully under the watch of security operatives deployed to monitor the procession.