Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has stirred fresh national debate after issuing a fervent public prayer calling for divine punishment on those allegedly benefitting from Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity crisis.
In a strongly worded post shared on his social media page on Thursday, the Kaduna-based scholar prayed that God should expose and immediately punish anyone—Nigerian or foreign—who profits directly or indirectly from the ongoing bloodshed across the country.
“Ya Allah! Whoever initiated or is behind this insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria… or is even happy that people are being killed, or willingly did nothing to stop it, may… Your anger [be] poured upon them and punished immediately without harm to the innocent. Amin,” Gumi wrote.
The post triggered an outpouring of reactions, with many Nigerians revisiting long-standing allegations and controversies surrounding Gumi’s engagements with armed groups in the North-West. While some respondents echoed the cleric’s prayer, others questioned his choice of words and accused him of being sympathetic to bandits.
Responding to critics in the comment section, Gumi dismissed their sentiments and urged them to focus on the message rather than his personality. He insisted his prayer was directed at anyone enabling insecurity—whether through direct sponsorship, encouragement, or passive indifference.
Gumi has remained a polarizing figure for years due to his interactions with bandit groups, which he defends as part of a peace-building and negotiation strategy. However, several organisations and individuals have repeatedly demanded his arrest, accusing him of emboldening criminal elements.
His latest remarks appear aimed at reinforcing his long-held position that Nigeria’s insecurity is fuelled not only by armed actors on the ground but also by unseen interests benefiting from the chaos.
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