Prominent Nigerian Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi today issued a stark warning during an address to his congregation, claiming that he has been targeted for elimination by the United States in connection with the Boko Haram insurgent group.
According to Gumi, the information came from a high level security source in Abuja, who alerted him to his inclusion on a list following a recent security meeting.
In a video address that has since circulated widely on social media, Sheikh Gumi detailed the early morning phone call, stating, “They said I have been marked; that I will be eliminated. And who are Boko Haram?”
He further paraphrased the caller as saying, “Even Americans, they said they came to fight terrorists, so who are the terrorists? They are the ones.” Gumi emphatically denied any affiliation with Boko Haram, urging northern leaders and Islamic clerics to speak out against what he described as “false accusations” and “lies.”
The cleric went on to accuse the United States of being responsible for the emergence of Boko Haram, alleging foreign interference in Nigeria's security challenges. “They are the ones doing it – Boko Haram. You will hear something. Here won't they put bomb?” he questioned.
Gumi also criticized the U.S. President Donald Trump for exacerbating Nigeria's divisions through policies that he claims promoted lies, destruction, and social fragmentation.
He highlighted how such external influences have led to oppression, hardship, and the silencing of local leaders, stating, “Because of lies, you brought violence, but where are the leaders, what did they do? What about the scholars? Where are they? Everyone has gone to hide in their corners.”
Sheikh Gumi expressed concern over narratives that portray Christians as the primary victims of insecurity, arguing that this fosters division and mutual suspicion among communities. He warned against external forces dividing the nation along religious lines, declaring, “Which country would agree to bring something in just to divide its people? There is no country that would accept that.”
He lamented the lack of meaningful dialogue from political and religious elites, leaving Nigerians with “noise” instead of solutions amid escalating hardship and denial of rights. “You brought us hardship, you broke us. You oppressed us, you denied us our rights,” he added, concluding that the current climate of fear and silence is “dragging the country down.”
This claim comes amid ongoing tensions in northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram has waged a prolonged insurgency, causing widespread displacement and loss of life.
Sheikh Gumi, known for his controversial role in negotiating with bandits and insurgents, has previously drawn criticism for his views on security matters. No immediate response has been issued by U.S. officials or Nigerian security agencies regarding these allegations.
Sheikh Gumi calls on all stakeholders, including northern leaders and scholars, to unite against these perceived threats and falsehoods to preserve national unity and peace.