Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi has denied claims that he was arrested by United States military personnel in Nigeria.
The denial came after a photo circulated online on Thursday, February 5, showing Gumi allegedly being detained by U.S. troops at an airport. The image quickly went viral, with some posts suggesting it was part of a foreign-led counterterrorism operation.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Gumi dismissed the reports.
“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 rejected the authenticity of the viral image.
“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI,” he said.
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Gumi added firmly, “I have not been arrested.”
Some social media posts claimed he was trying to flee to Turkey and linked him to terrorist groups, but these allegations remain unverified.
Gumi has long been a controversial figure in Nigeria. In 2021, he held meetings with bandit leaders in Kaduna, Zamfara, and other north-west states to negotiate the release of abducted victims. While some captives were freed, critics said his actions could undermine security efforts.
He has not faced any terrorism-related charges.