Is Sheikh Gumi a Terrorist Founder That Urged Government to Arm Igbo Youths Against IPOB?

Is Sheikh Gumi a Terrorist Founder That Urged Government to Arm Igbo Youths Against IPOB?

On January 28, 2025, a Facebook page, Biafrans View Channel put up a post claiming that controversial islamic leader, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is one of the terrorist founders and leaders in Nigeria and he has asked the Nigerian government to train and arm Igbo youths to fight against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The post which had a picture of Gumi reads, “One of the terrorists founders and leaders in Nigeria, negotiator Gunmi has told Nigerian government to train and arm Igbo youths to fight against IPOB. Gunmi the Boko Haram representative did not know that IPOB are  Igbo youths and that Igbo youths are  IPOB. Chronic Confusion!”

VERIFICATION

The fact-checker extracted two claims from the report: 

CLAIM 1

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is one of the terrorist founders

VERIFICATION

In 2021, Northern Nigerian saw an increase in the kidnapping and ambush by bandits and unknown gunmen with over 2,000 persons kidnapped across the country. During the rise in the kidnapping spree, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a former military captain, self appointed himself and started to act as a middleman between the government and terrorist groups. Gumi was went on meetings with the groups, discussed with them and negotiated the release of several abductees.

His involvement and negotiations with the terrorist groups earned him an invite for questioning by the Department of Security Service (DSS), which he later claimed to be ‘productive interaction on how to curb banditry’. There were insinuations about his complicity as people found his act of negotiation with bandits and terrorist groups suspicious, but there was no official charge against him. Eventually, in late 2021, Gumi announced that he had cut ties with the bandits after the government declared them terrorists.

VERDICT

The claim that Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is a founder and leader of a terrorist group is FALSE. This claim started after his middle man interactions with bandits and there are no evidence to support this claim.

CLAIM 2

Did Gumi advise the Nigerian Government to arm Igbo Youths to fight against IPOB?

VERIFICATION 

A thorough search of internet archives led to news articles affirming that the religious leader spoke on the matter and made the suggestion that the government arm Igbo Youths.

In an interview with Blueprint published on January 25, 2025, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi made suggestions to the government on the most effective ways to combat terrorism and the crisis in the south east. He suggested that the government train and arm Igbo youths that are familiar with the terrains to fight against the insurgents.

The Punch reported that he received backlash for making this suggestion.

VERDICT

The claim that Sheik Ahmad Gumi asked the government to train and arm Igbo youths to fight against IPOB is TRUE.

CONCLUSION

The claims made by Biafrans View Channel regarding Gumi advising the government to arm Igbo youths and order to fight IPOB is TRUE however the purported claim that the cleric is a terrorist leader remains FALSE.

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