Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kaduna, Nigeria — Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has publicly denied multiple circulating reports suggesting he was targeted for elimination by the United States during recent airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State. In a forceful clarification published on his official Facebook page, Gumi described the claims as false, misleading, and based on a misunderstanding of an old video recording, not current events.
Gumi’s statement comes in the wake of media and social-media speculation linking him to U.S. military action against extremist groups in northwest Nigeria. Those airstrikes — confirmed to have taken place in late December 2025 — were carried out by U.S. forces at the request of the Nigerian government and focused on Islamic State–linked militants and Lakurawa hideouts in Sokoto State, part of joint efforts to degrade extremist capabilities.
Addressing the rumours, Gumi categorically stated that he never claimed to have been targeted by U.S. air operations, nor does he believe there is any current threat to his life from the United States or any other foreign power. “There is fake news going viral now that wrongly claims that I said I was targeted by the U.S. attack on Nigerian soil, or something to that effect,” he said, adding that he has not entertained the idea of such a threat and remains comfortable at home with his family without fear, intimidation or apprehension.
Gumi explained that the origin of the misunderstanding lies in a previous lecture he gave, in which he recounted a 2012 attempted attack on his life by members of the Boko Haram insurgent group. In that earlier incident — unconnected to any U.S. action — the would-be assailants were reportedly killed when a bomb they were carrying detonated prematurely near his house. Gumi said he referenced this historical episode in the lecture, but the video has since been misinterpreted and circulated as if it were connected to current military operations.
“I never said so, and I also never thought of such a possibility,” Gumi reiterated, urging journalists and media outlets that published the erroneous claims to publicly retract their stories and issue apologies to prevent further misinformation. He stressed that the viral narrative linking him to recent airstrikes was “entirely unfounded” and urged both the media and social media users to verify the context and timing of clips before dissemination.
The cleric’s clarification also pointed to his long-standing public profile, which has often placed him at the centre of debates on Nigeria’s insecurity and counter-terrorism strategies. Gumi has previously been a vocal critic of foreign military involvement in Nigeria, arguing that such actions risk undermining the country’s sovereignty and polarising local populations. However, in this instance, he stressed that there is no present danger to his life linked to the Sokoto strikes or similar operations.
The correct context for the U.S. strikes himself and Nigerian officials have described them as a targeted response to extremist threats in the northwest, and not actions aimed at individuals or personalities within Nigeria. The strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and focused on degrading active militant positions and capabilities, a point emphasised in official statements from security sources.
Gumi’s call for accuracy in reporting underscores broader concerns about rapid misinformation in the digital age, particularly surrounding sensitive national security issues. Observers note that mischaracterised clips and out-of-context statements can quickly fuel false narratives, complicating public understanding of both security policy and the activities of influential figures.
By refuting the claims and urging corrections, Sheikh Gumi aims to set the record straight and prevent further spread of narratives that he says have no basis in fact. His statement reaffirms his position that past threats to his safety were historical and unrelated to recent defence collaborations between Nigeria and international partners, especially the United States.
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