Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged Nigerians to disregard “false and misleading” claims suggesting he was targeted for elimination by the United States during recent airstrikes in Sokoto State.
In a statement released on his official Facebook page on Sunday, January 4, 2026, Gumi clarified that the rumors originated from a misinterpretation of an old video.
In the clip, he had discussed past threats to his life made by the Boko Haram sect, not the recent military operations conducted by the U.S. and Nigerian forces on Christmas Day.
Gumi explained that the specific assassination attempt he referred to occurred in August 2012.
He recounted how two individuals allegedly sent by Boko Haram were killed instantly when a bomb they were carrying detonated prematurely near his home.
“I never said I was targeted by the US attack on Nigerian soil, and I also never thought of such a possibility,” Gumi stated.
“I am comfortably staying in my home with my family without fear, intimidation, or apprehension. The video going viral was a lecture I gave in a mosque recounting how Boko Haram targeted me years ago.”
The cleric expressed concern over the rapid spread of misinformation following the December 25, 2025, joint airstrikes against ISWAP and “Lakurawa” militants in Sokoto.
He maintained that while he remains critical of foreign military intervention on Nigerian soil—which he believes can polarize the nation—his personal safety is not currently under threat from international forces.
Gumi called on media organizations and social media users to verify the timeline and context of videos before publication.
He specifically urged agencies that carried the “fake news” to issue retractions and public apologies to prevent further tension in the country.
While Sheikh Gumi has been a vocal critic of the U.S. intervention—describing it as a “harbinger neo-Crusade”—he confirmed that he is not a person of interest in the ongoing tactical operations in the Northwest.
