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Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the extremist group Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), on October 14, 2023
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Recent deadly clashes in Nigeria involving the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have once again highlighted the group’s role as a destabilizing force influenced by Tehran’s ideological objectives. Inspired and funded by the clerical dictatorship in Iran, the IMN, led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, has grown increasingly militant in its pursuit of creating an Islamic state within Nigeria.
Despite being banned by the Nigerian government in 2019, the IMN continues to organize demonstrations, some of which have turned violent. According to a March 29, 2025,report by the Associated Press, five members of the IMN and one security force member were killed during a clash in Abuja on Quds Day—a day initiated by Tehran to project the regime’s global influence. Nineteen IMN members were arrested, with police claiming that demonstrators were armed and initiated the violence.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) is a Shiite Muslim group that claims to be inspired by the1979 Iranian Revolution and has modeled itself after Iran’s theocratic governance system. Led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has met with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei multiple times in recent years, the IMN has established a network of schools and institutions promoting Iranian-style Shiism across Nigeria since the early 1980s.
Terrorist units of the Quds Force are dispatched to countries in the #persian_gulf area, #Asia, #Africa , and #LatinAmerica. #BlacklistIRGC pic.twitter.com/oREnuUuwTr
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) February 14, 2017
Since Zakzaky’s arrest in 2015 following a deadly crackdown by the Nigerian military, the IMN has engaged in numerous protests demanding his release. During a2018 demonstration in Abuja, Nigerian police fired tear gas and live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of dozens of IMN members.
On July 24, 2019, Nigerian troops andpolice clashed with IMN protesters in the capital, Abuja. The IMN was demanding the release of Zakzaky, who had been held in detention since 2015. Security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky’s Connections to Tehran
Zakzaky has long expressed admiration for the Iranian regime’s ideological and political goals. During a meeting with religious and social activists in Nigeria on April 28, 2025,he stated, “The attack by Iran on Israel brought tears of joy to my eyes.” His rhetoric underscores a strong ideological alignment with Tehran’s anti-Western agenda.
Beware Of #Iran Regime's Malign Influence In #Africa
The need to tackle Iran’s reactionary ideology in Africahttps://t.co/RzV3r7LalD pic.twitter.com/STMk9oBWLr
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 23, 2018
Additionally, Zakzaky and his wifemet with Khamenei on October 14, 2024, further illustrating his loyalty to Tehran. The meeting highlights Iran’s interest in maintaining its influence over the IMN as part of its broader strategic goals in Africa.
In areport published on December 2, 2021, the NCRI warned that the IRGC has established training centers for Zakzaky’s militants in northern Nigerian regions such as Kano and Sokoto. These operations are part of Tehran’s strategy to expand its influence throughout West Africa.
Regime’s Broader Strategy in Africa
According to the NCRI, the regime in Iran has sought to exploit political instability and sectarian divisions in African countries as part of its strategy to “export the Islamic Revolution.” The IRGC and Hezbollah have established footholds throughout West Africa, with Nigeria serving as a key target due to its sizable Muslim population and geopolitical importance.
#Iran Regime-Backed Terror Network in Central #Africahttps://t.co/0QUgQBOHH0 pic.twitter.com/C3McICx0pF
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 23, 2019
The IRGC’s Unit 400, tasked with expanding Tehran’s influence abroad, has actively worked to build arms smuggling networks in Nigeria and other African nations. The IMN’s continued militancy and alignment with Iran’s ideological objectives present a persistent threat to Nigeria’s security. By promoting sectarianism and exploiting local grievances, Iran seeks to expand its strategic depth in West Africa through proxies like the IMN.
The IRGC and Hezbollah have also reportedly engaged in diamond smuggling and money laundering across West Africa, particularly in Congo and Sierra Leone, to generate revenue that supports their activities. This revenue stream helps finance training facilities, indoctrination centers, and militant operations like those associated with Zakzaky’s IMN.
Report: Iran’s Terrorist Network in Africa and Its Implicationshttps://t.co/LosPxt5JTO
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 28, 2023