Thousands of members of a pro-Iranian Shiite group took to the streets of several northern Nigerian cities on Sunday after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) marched through the streets of major cities in the predominantly Muslim north of the country, waving Iranian flags and portraits of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini (1979-1989) and Nigerian Shiite leader Ibrahim Zakzaky.

In Kano, the largest city in these northern regions which is home to a significant number of IMN supporters, the latter organized a five-kilometer march on Sunday, linking a mosque located in the Fagge business district to the group's headquarters in the Goron Dutse district.

They condemned the United States and Israel for the "unjustified" attacks that killed Ali Khamenei, his close associates, and members of his family, chanting "Death to America and Israel!" Some waved Palestinian flags.

"We are organizing this procession in honor of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei and to denounce the unjustified and barbaric American-Israeli aggression against Iran and its martyred leader," said Umar Yakubu, who led the demonstration, at the end of the march.

"These attacks demonstrate the duplicity and unreliability of the United States and Israel, who launched them in the middle of negotiations," added Mr. Yakubu.

The crowd chanted "Allahu Akbar!" ("God is great!"), while demanding an end to Western interference in the Middle East.

The IMN, which advocates an Iranian-style Islamic revolution in Nigeria, is in conflict with the Nigerian government, which has repressed it on several occasions.

But Mr. Yakubu urged his supporters not to resort to violence and to always follow the instructions of their leader Ibrahim Zakzaky, who lives in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

In December 2015, the Nigerian army raided Mr. Zakzaky's home in the northern town of Zaria after his supporters blocked the convoy of the then-Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army during a religious ceremony outside the IMN headquarters.

The raid resulted in the deaths of some 350 members of the group, according to official figures.