Arnold Mocks Pantami, Compares Trump’s Iran Strike To Farmer–Herder Conflict

A former Republican mayor of Blanco, Mike Arnold, has mocked former minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ali Pantami, over a viral video allegedly showing him emotional following the reported death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was reportedly killed in coordinated airstrikes against Iran by the United States and Israel amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

A video circulating on social media allegedly shows Pantami crying over the development, prompting Arnold to post a sarcastic response online.

Reacting to the video, Arnold said Pantami should understand that U.S. President Donald Trump bombing Iran was comparable to the “farmer–herder conflict,” a phrase frequently used in Nigeria to describe clashes between farmers and herders.

“He should know that Trump bombing Iran is not really Trump’s fault.

“He couldn’t help himself; it was just global warming. A simple farmer-herder conflict. Maybe he should dialogue with Trump, understand his position, offer him government money and jobs. They are brothers, after all. Maybe then Trump will stop bombing Iran, and we could all be happy together,” Arnold wrote.

Meanwhile, Arnold had earlier commented on U.S. military strikes targeting ISIS elements in Sokoto State.

According to reports, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out strikes against ISIS targets in Sokoto on Christmas Day, an operation described by Trump as a “Christmas Day gift” to terrorists.

Following the strikes, questions were raised in northern Nigeria over why the operation began in Sokoto in the North-West when the epicentre of terrorist violence in the country remains the North-East.

In a blog post, Arnold said the choice of Sokoto for the first U.S. strikes in Nigeria could be symbolic.

“The choice of Sokoto for the first U.S strikes in Nigeria was a signal.

“A geopolitical opening shot aimed at something bigger: the rise of global jihad in West Africa,” he wrote.

Arnold further referenced comments by the commander of AFRICOM, Michael Langley, who reportedly told the U.S. Congress that northern Nigeria had become a focal point of global terrorism.

“Earlier this year, U.S. AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley told Congress that this region — specifically northern Nigeria — is now the epicentre of global terrorism. That’s not theory. That’s official U.S. military doctrine,” Arnold stated.

He added, “So maybe this was the first domino. A symbolic entry point. A way to plant the flag and begin the unmasking of what some in Washington now suspect: that Nigeria is not just plagued by terror — many of its elite may be in league with it.”