Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has broken his silence on the lingering allegations surrounding the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.
The Kaduna-based scholar, in a strongly worded public prayer on Thursday, called for divine punishment on anyone benefiting from the bloodshed ravaging the country.
His remarks have once again placed him at the centre of national conversation on insecurity.
Gumi offered the prayer via his social media page, asking God to expose those responsible for the violence and unrest affecting many communities.
He declared that anyone—Nigerian or foreign—who profits directly or indirectly from terror attacks should face God’s anger.
According to him, such person deserve immediate punishment, provided the innocent are not harmed.
In his words: “Ya Allah! Whoever initiated or is behind this insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria, whether foreign or citizen, or has any benefit, material or otherwise, or is even happy that people are being killed, or willingly did nothing to stop it, may by Your divine power be exposed and Your anger poured upon them and punished immediately without harm to the innocent. Amin. Say Amin!”
The post immediately generated reactions from Nigerians, many of whom questioned Gumi’s choice of words and revived long-standing debates about his association with bandits.
Some users accused him of being sympathetic to criminal elements, while others simply echoed the prayer and expressed hope for accountability.
Responding to critics in the comment section, the cleric dismissed their sentiments and urged them to focus on the prayer rather than his personality.
He insisted that the message was directed at anyone enabling insecurity, whether through direct sponsorship, encouragement, or passive indifference.
Gumi has for years remained a controversial figure due to his engagements with armed groups in the North-West.
While he has defended his approach as a pathway to negotiation and peace, several groups have repeatedly called for his arrest, accusing him of emboldening bandits.
His latest outburst appears to be aimed at reinforcing his position that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is driven not only by fighters on the ground but by hidden actors benefitting from the chaos.
Amin ya hayyu ya qayyum
It is written by the words of our mouth we are justified and by the words of our month we are condemn…Sheikh Gumi has prayed a deep and targeted prayers against the alarming and growing state of insecurity in Nigeria… If he is aiding the spread of this black evil, then his words will definitely catch up with him..
It’s unfortunate, not surprising though that Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, bandits spokesperson and negotiator is now a celebrity before the press and the Nigerian state. Shame on Nigeria
He new his days are numbered with the General now appointed as the Defence minister, so the only option left for him is to deny the bandit to safeguard himself.
No thief can admit stealing until he or she is caught. Whatever Gumi may say, his actions proved him wanted. Those who sympathized criminals are liable for same offence. Gumi have access to bandits locations Nationwide, what has been his achievement all the while he has been meeting with the criminals, nothing, but still pushing for negotiations with bandits
You guys always form wrong opinions about people and cling unto it irrespective of the true position of the person. You label people and never let go even when evidences abound to the contrary. You support terrorists for rom one side, claiming they are agitators and have not killed anyone despite evidences to the contrary but when the ones you hate to see say their own, you twist their words and seek to tag them unjustly. Now he had come out stronger and you’re here clinging on to your bigoted opinions. He had his brother kidnapped and went to negotiate with bandits who then used that opportunity to reveal their mind to him when he preached to them. Now he has no diplomatic way of saying his mind unlike you that know how to manipulate things. That makes him a terrorist sympathizer to you and your ilk. Continue with your obstinacy.