By SUNTV Global Channel
February 5, 2026
Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has dismissed widespread social media claims alleging that he was arrested by United States military personnel at a Nigerian airport, describing the viral image used to support the story as artificially generated and false.
The claims surfaced on Thursday after an image began circulating online, purportedly showing Sheikh Gumi being apprehended by armed U.S. troops at an airport. The image was accompanied by narratives suggesting the arrest was part of an international counterterrorism operation and that the cleric was attempting to flee Nigeria for Turkey.
Speaking exclusively to SUNTV Global Channel via telephone, Sheikh Gumi firmly denied the reports, questioning both their legality and credibility.
“The U.S. Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria. Why would the U.S. military come to Nigeria to arrest me, and for what offence?” he asked.
Addressing the viral image directly, Gumi described it as a fabrication created using artificial intelligence technology.
“That image is AI-generated. Even a layman can tell it is not real,” he said, urging the public to disregard the misleading visuals and accompanying claims.
He further reaffirmed his status, stating plainly, “I have not been arrested. I am free in Nigeria.”
The false reports alleged that Sheikh Gumi was detained by U.S. military personnel at a Nigerian airport while attempting to leave the country amid suspicions of links to terrorist groups—claims for which no evidence has been provided by any official authority.
Sheikh Gumi has remained a controversial figure in Nigeria’s public space, particularly since 2021 when he began engaging with leaders of armed bandit groups in parts of north-west Nigeria. According to the cleric, those engagements were aimed at negotiating the release of abducted victims in states such as Kaduna and Zamfara.
While some of the negotiations resulted in the release of hostages—earning him praise from affected families—his actions also drew criticism from security analysts and government officials, who argued that engaging armed groups without formal authorization could undermine national security efforts.
Despite repeated public calls for investigation and prosecution, no Nigerian court has charged Sheikh Gumi with terrorism-related offences as of 2026.
Supporters maintain that his interventions helped save lives, while critics insist that negotiating with violent groups outside established legal frameworks poses serious risks to the country’s security architecture.
SUNTV Global Channel reports that there is no confirmation from Nigerian or U.S. authorities supporting the viral arrest claims, further reinforcing Gumi’s assertion that the story is false.
