Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric from Kaduna, stated that he was informed he was targeted for elimination as a Boko Haram member during U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria. He revealed that he received an early-morning phone call in Abuja alerting him that his name had been included in the list of individuals marked by the U.S. military.
The airstrikes, which took place in Sokoto State, were aimed at members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and occurred on December 25, 2025. Gumi argued that foreign military involvement in Nigeria worsens insecurity rather than solving it.
The cleric questioned the role of global powers in the rise of insurgent groups and suggested that U.S. policies and interventions contributed to ongoing terrorism in Nigeria. He also criticized local political and religious leaders in northern Nigeria for their lack of response to repeated attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP, expressing concern about silence and inaction.
Gumi further raised concerns over unequal support distribution, arguing that aid and interventions were being provided only to Christian victims of attacks, leaving other communities without assistance. He warned that these imbalances could deepen divisions and worsen insecurity across the region.
The cleric’s claims have sparked widespread discussion online, drawing attention to Nigeria’s complex security challenges and the role of both foreign and local actors in addressing terrorism.