Gumi Challenges Pope on Claims of Targeted Attacks on Christians

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has rejected recent comments by Pope Leo XIV, who listed Nigeria among countries where Christians are allegedly facing systematic attacks.

Speaking during an appearance on VOPTV’s breakfast program VOP This Morning, Gumi described the Pope’s statement as emotionally driven and lacking adequate context about Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

The cleric disputed claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, arguing that such characterizations overlook key realities. He noted that several of Nigeria’s top military officials are Christians, asserting that it would be illogical for them to preside over targeted attacks against their own communities.

Gumi also reacted to past comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to launch military action against terrorist groups in Nigeria. He dismissed the comments and questioned America’s moral authority to intervene in Nigeria, accusing Trump of being complicit in what he described as the “genocide” currently unfolding in Gaza.

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Addressing reports that he allegedly stated Christians were “burying empty corpses,” Gumi clarified that the quote had been taken out of context. He explained that the misinterpretation stemmed from a Facebook post on Nigeria’s worsening banditry crisis and reiterated his focus on addressing the root causes of insecurity.

Gumi emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are deeply tied to socioeconomic issues such as poverty, ignorance, and lack of education. He stressed that addressing these issues is key to tackling banditry and other forms of violence. “If eliminating bandits were that simple, I would lead the mission myself,” he remarked.

The cleric also called for renewed efforts in interfaith dialogue as a pathway to peace, suggesting that meaningful conversations between Nigeria’s religious communities are essential in resolving escalating tensions.

Gumi’s comments highlight the complexities of Nigeria’s security landscape, suggesting that framing the crisis solely as religious persecution may obscure the broader socio-political and economic factors at play.