Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has ignited a spiritual and social media firestorm with a potent public prayer calling for God's punishment on individuals he accuses of fueling violence across Nigeria.
A Prayer for Divine Exposure and Retribution
On Thursday, December 4, the controversial cleric took to his official Facebook page to post a supplication titled "My prayer today". In the detailed post, Gumi appealed for divine intervention against all parties involved in the nation's persistent bloodshed.
He specifically prayed that God would expose and bring immediate wrath upon anyone, whether within Nigeria or abroad, who initiates, sponsors, benefits from, or even silently condones acts of terror and killing. His prayer concluded with a call for others to join him by saying "Amin."
Mixed Reactions Flood Social Media
The cleric's post rapidly generated a flood of reactions, sharply dividing online commentators into camps of fervent supporters and harsh critics.
One critic, Sani Badamasi, directly challenged Gumi's longstanding methodology in engaging with armed groups. He argued that the cleric's past statements, which included telling bandits they were "cheated," constituted a form of encouragement that could be more damaging than physical support. Gumi's terse reply to such criticism was a repeated instruction: "Just say Amin."
Conversely, many supporters echoed his spiritual warfare. User Endless Joe agreed with the prayer, stating that anyone supporting Nigeria's enemies would not see the end of the year. Gumi affirmed this sentiment, extending the prayer to "all the enemies of Nigeria, bandits included."
Gumi's Controversial Role in Security Discourse
This incident is the latest chapter in Sheikh Gumi's controversial involvement in Nigeria's complex security landscape. For years, he has acted as an informal mediator between government authorities and armed factions operating in the North-West region.
His advocacy for dialogue over military force has frequently drawn accusations from some quarters that he is providing cover for terrorists and bandits. As recently as November, he reportedly responded angrily to calls for his arrest over his continued public commentary on national security matters.
The spiritual call to action comes against a grim backdrop of ongoing violence. In a related development, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that six soldiers were killed during an attack by Islamic State-linked terrorists on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa district of Borno State. The military reported that 34 assailants were neutralized in the counter-operation, with significant arms and ammunition recovered.
