Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has dismissed allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria as politically motivated, saying recent developments are part of a wider scheme aimed at influencing the 2027 elections. He made the remarks in a statement posted on his Facebook page following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians.
Gumi accused certain “unpatriotic bigot clerics” of fuelling the narrative for political gain and insisted that the United States had no business meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs. He said the country is beset not only by criminals involved in banditry, Boko Haram and IPOB — a point he said Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently acknowledged — but also by local clerics who he claimed were aiding foreign actors to divide Nigeria and exploit its resources.
“At a time when Americans are queuing for food, why are they concerned about our internal issues?” Gumi wrote, arguing that efforts are being made to address insecurity in Nigeria but that the “right mix of strategies” is missing. “All this noise is simply about 2027,” he added.
Gumi also alleged that some non-governmental organisations and foreign actors have been arming militias under the guise of humanitarian aid, warning that such interference could further destabilise the country. He urged Nigerians to be wary of what he described as externally driven attempts to complicate internal security efforts.
