- Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been confirmed dead amid escalating tensions after US-Israel strikes
- Prominent Nigerians have reacted with mixed sentiments over Khamenei’s assassination and its regional implications
- Reacting, Sheikh Zakzaky condemned Western hypocrisy and called for Muslim unity against aggression in the Middle East
Tehran, Iran – Multiple Iranian state media confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
US President Donald Trump called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history” and urged Iranians to “take back their country.”
Source: Twitter
The joint US-Israel strikes on Saturday, February 28, hit targets across Iran, with one killing over 100 girls at an elementary school.
Iran is unleashing fresh attacks after Khamenei’s assassination.
Iran conflict: Prominent Nigerians speak
In light of this development, Legit.ng lists six prominent Nigerians quoted in the media on Iran’s battle with adversaries, from Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to Omoyele Sowore, who have weighed in on the crisis.
1) Gumi reacts to Ali Khamenei’s killing
On Sunday, March 1, Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi, reacted to the assassination of Khamenei, describing the late Iranian leader as “a lucky soul” who died defending oppressed people.
Gumi, in a post shared on his official Facebook page, said Khamenei’s death occurred in what he termed “Jihad against killers of innocent children and women in Gaza and elsewhere.”
Gumi wrote:
“A lucky soul, he died in Jihad against the killers of innocent children and women in Gaza and elsewhere.”
He added that the late Iranian leader’s blood “will fuel the change in the ummah,” noting that Khamenei “stood firmly for justice and didn’t hide in bunkers.”
2) Primate Ayodele’s prophecy on Iran
Primate Ayodele had called on Iran to be watchful of missile attacks.
In his 2025 Warnings To The Nations prophecy book, Ayodele warned that Iran should be “watchful of missile attacks” and that the country could face missile strikes or security threats.
3) Sheikh Zakzaky backs Iran
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, the prominent Nigerian Shi’a cleric and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in 2025, declared unwavering support for Iran’s right to defend itself amid rising tensions with Israel. Zakzaky condemned what he described as repeated acts of aggression by Israel and stressed that no sovereign nation should be expected to tolerate unprovoked attacks without a response.
Per Blueprint Newspaper, Zakzaky criticised Western governments for ‘their apparent indifference,’ calling their alleged silence a sign of double standards.
Zakzaky said:
“When Israel carries out attacks, it is termed self-defence, but when Iran responds, it becomes an offence. This hypocrisy undermines global justice and peace.”
The cleric called on Muslim nations and justice-seeking people around the world to stand with Iran against what he called “imperial arrogance.”
Furthermore, he warned that continued Western bias could escalate conflict in the Middle East and embolden further violations of international law.
4) Adamu Garba mourns Iran’s Khamenei
Garba, a former presidential aspirant and international relations expert, uses his X (formerly Twitter) platform to comment on developments in the Gulf region.
Although he initially expressed scepticism about the reports of Khamenei’s killing, after Iran’s own confirmation, he publicly mourned the slain leader.
Source: Twitter
Garba tweeted:
“Finally, the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 19-04-1939 to 28-02-2026.
“Kullu man alaiha faaan……
“May Allah grant him eternal rest in peace.”
5) Fani Kayode’s support for Iran
In a widely-circulated article published in 2025, Femi Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), applauded what he called ‘the compelling courage of Iran’.
At the time, a ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel.
The former aviation minister stated that Iran’s response to what he termed an unprovoked attack by Israel had forced the latter into seeking a truce with the backing of the United States, Daily Trust noted.
6) Tension in Iran: Sowore tackles Trump
After it was confirmed that Khamenei and many others had been killed in joint US–Israeli strikes, Omoyele Sowore, a prominent left-wing Nigerian politician and activist, sharply criticised Trump.
Sowore, whose family is based in the United States, wrote on his verified X and Facebook pages condemning Trump’s actions and rhetoric in relation to the conflict.
He wrote on X on Sunday, March 1, 2026:
“Anyone justifying mass murder simply because Donald J. Trump believes the world is his playground should brace themselves for a world of resistance.
“Power without accountability always meets opposition. History has shown that when leaders overreach, people organise, mobilise, and push back.”
Sowore’s post has ignited reactions across social media, with many users expressing disagreement with his views.
Trump responds to Iran’s threat
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that US President Trump warned Iran not to attack the American assets in the Middle East.
Trump stated that if such is continued, the US will not hesitate to hit the country with unprecedented force