“US army can’t arrest me…” — Sheikh Gumi breaks silence on his alleged arrest
A prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has dismissed widespread social media claims that he was arrested by United States US army personnel in Nigeria.
The denial followed the circulation of a viral image on Thursday, February 5, which allegedly showed the cleric being apprehended by US troops at a Nigerian airport.
Viral Claims Spark Confusion
The image appeared days after reports that President Donald Trump approved the deployment of a small team of American troops to Nigeria to support counterterrorism efforts.
Social media posts linked the image to an alleged international operation, claiming foreign forces were active in Nigeria during the supposed arrest.
Some users further alleged that Sheikh Gumi was intercepted while attempting to travel to Turkey over suspected links to terrorist groups and their camps.
Gumi Reacts to Allegations
Speaking with SaharaReporters in a telephone interview on Thursday, the cleric firmly rejected the claims and questioned their logic.
“The US Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria. Why will the US Army come and arrest me in Nigeria, for what reason?” he asked.
Gumi also challenged the authenticity of the viral image, insisting it was digitally fabricated.
“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI,” he said.
He concluded the interview by stating clearly, “I have not been arrested.”
Background to the Backlash
Sheikh Gumi has faced criticism in recent months over his advocacy for dialogue with bandits, whom he described as angry individuals who could be persuaded to embrace peace.
His recent comments on US military actions also attracted strong reactions from many Nigerians.
