Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has come under intense criticism from Nigerians across social media platforms after comments attributed to him during a television interview were widely interpreted as appearing to explain or justify how armed groups involved in kidnapping sustain their operations.
The cleric sparked outrage after he reportedly stated during an interview with Africa Independent Television (AIT) that terrorists and bandits operating across parts of Nigeria depend heavily on ransom payments generated through kidnappings to finance their activities, especially amid intensified military operations against them.
According to the remarks attributed to him, Gumi said the armed groups were not living lavish lifestyles but were under significant pressure from government security offensives, forcing them to seek financial resources to maintain what he described as their “war machines.”
He was further quoted as saying that if the groups abandoned banditry, they would lose their primary source of financing, a statement that immediately triggered widespread condemnation online.
Many Nigerians accused the cleric of appearing to sympathise with criminal groups responsible for killings, kidnappings, and widespread insecurity across the country, with his comments igniting heated debates on social media.
Several users expressed shock and anger over the remarks, questioning why statements perceived as sympathetic to terrorists continue to surface publicly despite the devastating impact of insecurity on communities nationwide.
Some critics openly called for security agencies to investigate the cleric, while others described the comments as insensitive to families who have lost loved ones or paid huge sums to secure the release of abducted relatives.
The backlash continued to grow as clips and excerpts from the interview circulated online, drawing thousands of reactions and reigniting long-standing debates over Gumi’s controversial engagements with armed groups in northern Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Gumi nor his representatives had issued any clarification regarding the statements, while the comments continued to generate fierce public reactions and renewed calls for accountability.
