Netizen Raises Alarm After Islamic Cleric Gumi Visits Ibadan
A social media user has expressed deep concern over the visit to Ibadan by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric widely criticized for his past negotiations with terrorists. The netizen’s warning follows Gumi’s public lecture at the University of Ibadan on November 19.
The lecture, organized by southern Muslim scholars, sparked backlash online because of Gumi’s controversial history in brokering talks with armed groups in northern Nigeria.
The alarm was heightened by a recent terrorist attack in nearby Kwara State: a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku was attacked, reportedly killing at least two people, with others abducted.
One concerned user, @_AsiwajuLerry, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Sheikh Gumi … was in Ibadan yesterday giving lectures at UI. Kwara state … is just 5 hrs away from Ibadan. These people are closer than we think. I am genuinely worried for Yoruba land.”
Critics have called for Gumi’s arrest and questioned the decision to invite him to Ibadan. Some also called for more robust regional security measures, including increased vigilance from the Amotekun (Southwest regional security outfit), to guard against potential threats.