Popular Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi has stirred significant controversy on social media following a public prayer he offered against individuals he described as enablers of the ongoing insecurity and bloodshed in Nigeria.
A Surprising Prayer for Divine Intervention
On the morning of Thursday, December 4, 2025, Sheik Gumi took to his verified Facebook page to post a fervent prayer. In the post, he called on God to expose and punish anyone involved in or benefiting from the nation's security crisis.
He specifically prayed: "Ya Allah! Whoever initiated or is behind this insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria, whether foreign or citizen, or has any benefit, material or otherwise, or is even happy that people are being killed, or willingly did nothing to stop it, may by Your divine power be exposed and Your anger poured upon them and punished immediately without harm to the innocent. Amin." He concluded his post with an invitation for others to join in by saying "Say Amin!".
Immediate Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy
The cleric's prayer was met with widespread surprise and skepticism by many Nigerians online. A significant number of social media users were quick to point out what they perceive as Gumi's history of sympathetic rhetoric towards armed bandits, often referring to him as a 'bandits apologist'.
Instead of echoing his 'Amin', a flood of comments turned the prayer back on him. Many users prayed that he himself would be included in the consequences of his own invocation, suggesting he is among those who benefit from or are complicit in the insecurity.
Gumi Engages Critics Directly
The reaction was so intense that Sheik Gumi noticed the critical comments and chose to engage directly with his detractors in the comment section of the post. This rare move led to a series of public exchanges where the cleric defended his position and intentions against the accusations leveled at him.
The incident highlights the deep divisions and strong emotions surrounding the discourse on insecurity in Nigeria. It also underscores how public figures, especially those involved in sensitive issues like security and mediation, are scrutinized by the citizenry on social media platforms.
