Kaduna‑based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has rejected circulating claims that he was marked for elimination during recent United States military operations in Nigeria. The cleric said the reports being shared on social media are false, misleading, and taken out of context.
Earlier this week, a video circulated in which Gumi appeared to suggest that his name had been included on a security “hit list” alongside Boko Haram figures during a bombing linked to U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025. In that footage, he recounted receiving a call notifying him that his name had come up during national security discussions and was allegedly flagged for elimination. In the video, he was also critical of foreign military involvement and questioned local leaders’ responses to insurgency.
However, Gumi later clarified that he never said he was currently being targeted by the United States or any security agency. Speaking to Leadership and posting on his verified social media accounts, he explained that the viral clip was old and misinterpreted. According to the cleric, the original remarks referred to an earlier threat against his life by Boko Haram in 2012, not any recent airstrike or current security operation.
Gumi told reporters he is “comfortably staying in my home with my family without fear, intimidation, or apprehension,” and that there is no ongoing threat to his life. He also recounted that in the 2012 incident, the alleged attackers were killed when an explosive device detonated prematurely near his house, an event he attributes to divine intervention.
The cleric urged media organisations that published the inaccurate reports to issue public retractions and apologies, warning that misinformation about sensitive security matters can inflame tensions and distort facts. He reaffirmed that he remains committed to peace and has no reason to fear for his safety at present.
