Gumi Says Khamenei Lucky for ‘Dying in Jihad’

Nigerian cleric, Sheikh Gumi, has hailed the late supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a coordinated joint strike launched on the Middle East country by Israel and the United States, for “dying in Jihad”.

In a post shared by the cleric on Facebook, Gumi described Khamenei as a “lucky soul” who stood firmly for justice and did not hide in bunkers. Gumi added that his blood “will fuel the change in the ummah”.

“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: A lucky soul, he died in jihad against killers of innocent children and women in Gaza and elsewhere. His blood will fuel the change in the ummah. He stood firmly for justice and didn’t hide in bunkers. For those who killed him or assisted in killing him, let us see what they will live to do in this world,” Gumi wrote.

An image of the assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is plastered on a pylon the day after the US and Israel targeted Iran, killing him, in Baghdad on March 1, 2026. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Gumi is notable for controversial statements on banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s northern region and has repeatedly argued that bandits are criminals driven by grievances or poverty. He was deported from Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Khamenei’s death was confirmed by Iranian state television hours after US President Donald Trump announced the killing of the leader who has been ruling Iran since 1989. Iran has also announced a 40-day mourning period for its late leader.

Author

Olayide Soaga

Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling.

She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.