The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a security alert warning American citizens to remain indoors today as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi'ites, marks International Quds Day in Abuja and other cities, despite the group's denial of plans to attack American citizens or institutions.
In the security alert issued Thursday night, the embassy informed U.S. citizens that the IMN has announced its intention to assemble and march to recognize International Quds Day, an annual pro-Palestinian event held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel and Zionism.
This year, the IMN has also fixed Friday, March 13, to mourn the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate quickly.
Local authorities are expected to increase security measures, including road closures, traffic restrictions, or increased police presence in areas where demonstrations occur.
Previous demonstrations by IMN have resulted in violent clashes with Nigerian security forces," the embassy statement read.
The embassy strongly recommended that all U.S. citizens remain in their residences on Friday, March 13, beginning at 1:30 pm and through the remainder of the day.
This marks the third advisory the embassy has issued since the U.S./Israel war on Iran began on February 28, following an earlier warning Tuesday about a possible terrorist threat targeting U.S. facilities and U.S.-affiliated schools in the country.
However, the IMN insists its activities remain peaceful and lawful.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the head of the IMN Resource Forum, Prof Abdullah Danladi, dismissed insinuations that the group or its members were planning attacks, stressing that the movement had never engaged in violence.
"In the history of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, which started around 1977, we have never attacked anybody or given instructions to attack anybody.
We had never, and we will never attack anybody. It is not in our line, it is not in our making, and it is not in our religion to attack anyone," Danladi said.
He questioned why the US Embassy issued a public alert instead of reporting its concerns to Nigerian security agencies, suggesting that direct communication with authorities would have been more appropriate than a public advisory that could heighten tensions.
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