Ahmad Gumi claims Abuja officials warned him about being listed for airstrike elimination in Nigeria amid U.S. military action

A video circulating online has pushed a serious and controversial claim into the national conversation. In it, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi tells his followers that he was informed he had been placed on a list of people marked for elimination as alleged terrorists.

The timing of the warning, he said, made it even more unsettling. According to him, it came on the same morning that reports of a U.S. military airstrike in Nigeria began to spread.

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An early morning phone call raised alarm

Gumi told his congregation that he received a call from someone in Abuja who claimed to have knowledge of a national security meeting.

The caller, whose identity he did not reveal, allegedly warned him that his name appeared among those classified as Boko Haram figures and potentially targeted for military action. Gumi described the information as both disturbing and dangerous, especially given the consequences such labeling could carry.

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He rejected the accusation and called it a dangerous falsehood

The cleric strongly denied any link to Boko Haram or violent extremism. He argued that branding religious figures as terrorists without proof was reckless and could cost innocent people their lives.

He urged northern leaders and Islamic scholars to speak up, saying silence in the face of such claims only allows misinformation to grow and creates fear in communities already living under pressure.

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U.S. airstrikes and past threats add to the tension

The controversy unfolded in the context of recent U.S. military action in Nigeria. On December 25, American forces reportedly carried out airstrikes targeting members of the Islamic State West Africa Province in Sokoto State.

That operation followed earlier statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had threatened aggressive action against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria, particularly those accused of targeting Christians.

For Gumi, these developments made the warning he received feel even more real.

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He argued that foreign intervention worsens Nigeria’s security problems

Rather than welcoming outside military involvement, Gumi criticized it sharply. He argued that foreign interventions often deepen instability instead of resolving it, and that they come with political narratives that oversimplify complex local conflicts.

He questioned who truly benefits from these interventions and suggested that global powers have played a role in shaping, or even enabling, the rise of extremist groups.

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The cleric questioned selective humanitarian and political responses

Beyond the security angle, Gumi raised concerns about what he described as selective sympathy and selective support.

He criticized international responses that, in his view, appear to prioritize one group of victims over others. He argued that aid, condemnation, and concern should apply equally to all affected Nigerians, regardless of religion or region.

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He also turned his frustration toward northern leadership

Gumi did not spare local leaders from criticism. He asked why political and religious figures in northern Nigeria often appear quiet after attacks, and what concrete actions they have taken to protect their people.

He described a culture of fear and silence that, in his opinion, prevents honest discussion about security failures and the roots of ongoing violence.

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What’s next?

Gumi’s comments have added fuel to an already sensitive debate about terrorism, foreign involvement, and accountability in Nigeria.

Whether his claims will be officially addressed, investigated, or dismissed remains to be seen. What is clear is that the video has reopened uncomfortable questions about who defines terrorism, how those definitions are used, and who gets protected — or endangered — by them.

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