Photo: Sheikh Ahmad Gumi – says action politically motivated
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic scholar based in Kaduna, Nigeria, has been deported from Saudi Arabia and barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, despite holding a valid visa. The decision by Saudi authorities has stirred reactions across Nigeria’s religious and diplomatic communities.
Gumi, who has since returned to Nigeria, confirmed his deportation in a post shared Monday on his verified Facebook page.
He revealed that although he had been issued a Saudi visa, he was denied entry upon arrival in Medina and forced to return to Nigeria. According to the cleric, the action was politically motivated, allegedly linked to his outspoken views on international affairs.
“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Gumi wrote, offering no further specifics on the statements or actions that may have triggered the ban.
He also acknowledged the Nigerian government’s efforts to intervene diplomatically, thanking authorities for expressing readiness to engage with their Saudi counterparts in resolving the matter. The incident has raised concerns about the implications for religious scholars and Nigeria-Saudi relations during the 2025 Hajj season.
Sheikh Gumi was among a delegation of Nigerian Islamic clerics sponsored by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to assist pilgrims with religious guidance and support during the Hajj exercise. He reportedly arrived in Medina at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday aboard an Umza Air flight along with other scholars.
However, Saudi immigration officials at the airport halted him during processing, denied him entry, and placed him on a return flight to Nigeria shortly afterwards.
Though Saudi officials have not released an official statement regarding the deportation, the move has sparked speculation, particularly given Gumi’s controversial profile. Over the years, the cleric has gained notoriety for engaging with armed bandit groups in northern Nigeria and making public comments on sensitive security and political issues.
His deportation and exclusion from the 2025 Hajj highlight growing geopolitical sensitivities around religious expression and political dissent in the Muslim world.
As the situation unfolds, attention will likely remain on how the Nigerian government navigates the diplomatic fallout and whether Saudi authorities will further clarify the reasons for Gumi’s ban.
