Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has rejected reports claiming that he was arrested by United States military officers at a Nigerian airport.
The reports followed the circulation of a viral image that appeared to show the Islamic cleric being detained by foreign soldiers.
Politics Nigeria reports that the image spread widely on social media on Thursday, sparking speculation that the action was linked to an international counter-terrorism operation in Nigeria.
The story quickly gained attention, with several online posts alleging that the cleric was intercepted while trying to leave the country. Some messages claimed he was heading to Turkey and had been stopped over suspected links to terrorist groups.
Reacting to the development, Gumi dismissed the claims as false and illogical.
“The US Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria, why will the US army come and arrest me in Nigeria, for what reason?” he said.
He also questioned the authenticity of the image used to support the reports.
“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI,” Gumi stated.
He further insisted that he had not been detained in any form.
“I have not been arrested,” he said.
According to him, the image and the accompanying narrative were fabricated to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.
The viral post alleged that U.S. military personnel arrested him at a Nigerian airport while he was attempting to escape the country. It also claimed that the arrest was connected to investigations into alleged terrorist camps.
However, there has been no official confirmation from Nigerian or foreign authorities supporting these claims.
Sheikh Gumi has remained a controversial figure in Nigeria due to his long-standing engagement with armed groups operating in the northern part of the country.
In 2021, he attracted national attention after holding meetings with leaders of bandit groups in parts of Kaduna, Zamfara and neighbouring states. The discussions were aimed at securing the release of kidnapped victims.
Several hostages were later freed, a move that earned him praise from some families and local communities.
Despite this, security experts and government officials raised concerns over his approach. They argued that engaging armed groups without formal approval could weaken the fight against insecurity.
Civil society organisations also questioned whether such meetings could amount to indirect support for criminal networks.
Over the years, calls have been made for authorities to investigate his activities. Yet, no Nigerian court has charged him with terrorism-related offences as of 2026.
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