Prominent Islamic cleric, Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, has come out swinging against what he describes as a wave of deliberate misquotations and doctored materials falsely linking him to support for banditry in Nigeria.
In a strongly worded press release issued on May 23, 2026, Gumi accused certain ethnic-interest groups, prejudice-driven individuals, and sectional internet content creators of twisting his words in media interviews, public lectures, and broader discourse on tackling banditry. He claimed these actors deploy sensational and outrageous headlines purely to chase viewership, even at the cost of human suffering and sacrifice.
“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me — whether directly or by innuendo — suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me,” the cleric declared.
Gumi positioned himself as a loyal citizen of Nigeria, a country he believes possesses potential unmatched anywhere in the world. He urged the general public, the media, and the Nigerian state to disregard all such “fake, manipulated, and doctored materials” currently in circulation.
In a clear warning shot, the Sheikh vowed legal consequences for anyone who continues spreading falsehoods against him from the date of the release onward.
Gumi expressed his sincere wish that Nigeria would heal from its wounds and that victims of the violence would find comfort in the collective determination of both the nation and the international community to deliver a lasting solution to the insecurity that has been fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice.
