Cleric says viral clips misrepresent his views, insists advocacy for dialogue is not support for terrorism

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has strongly denied allegations linking him to support for banditry and terrorism in Nigeria, describing such claims as false and deliberately misleading.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Gumi said several videos and comments attributed to him circulating online have been distorted or taken out of context to portray him as sympathetic to criminal groups.

He maintained that he has consistently been misquoted during interviews and public engagements on the country’s worsening insecurity, accusing critics of pushing a false narrative.

“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me suggesting support for banditry does not emanate from me,” he said, warning that he may take legal action against media organisations and individuals responsible for spreading the claims.

The cleric reaffirmed his commitment to peace, national unity, and conflict resolution, stressing that his calls for dialogue with armed groups have been misunderstood. According to him, advocating non-violent engagement as a strategy to address insecurity should not be interpreted as endorsing criminality.

Gumi has remained a controversial figure in Nigeria’s security discourse, frequently drawing criticism and debate over his stance on negotiating with bandits and promoting non-military approaches to tackling violent conflicts, particularly in the northern region.