Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has denied claims that he fled Nigeria to avoid a potential U.S. military action following President Donald Trump’s recent comments on alleged attacks against Christians.
Rumours spread after photos showed Gumi in Turkey, with some social media users alleging he escaped due to his previous contact with terrorists. However, the cleric clarified that his trip had nothing to do with Trump’s warning.
In a Facebook post, Gumi stated that he received his Turkish visa on October 16, 2025 — weeks before Trump’s November 1 post accusing Nigeria of “Christian genocide.” He dismissed the rumours as lies driven by “melancholy and blind worship of Trump.”
Gumi further argued that the genocide claims were part of a wider agenda to attack Islam and Sharia law. He accused some Nigerians of spreading falsehoods for foreign sympathy, even alleging that certain groups in the Middle Belt were staging fake mass burials to push the genocide narrative.
The cleric, who has previously met with armed bandits in Northern Nigeria under the guise of peace talks, continues to face criticism amid ongoing insecurity in the region.
