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Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has firmly denied viral claims that he was arrested by United States military operatives in Nigeria, describing the widely circulated image backing the allegation as artificial intelligence–generated.
Speculation erupted on Thursday, February 5, after a photograph surfaced online purportedly showing Sheikh Gumi being detained by U.S. soldiers at an airport in Nigeria. The image quickly went viral across social media platforms, fueling claims that the cleric had been arrested as part of a foreign-led counterterrorism operation.
However, addressing journalists on Thursday, Gumi dismissed the reports as false, illogical, and misleading.
“The U.S. Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria. Why will the U.S. Army come to Nigeria to arrest me? For what reason?” he asked.
Reacting specifically to the controversial image, the cleric insisted it was not authentic, stressing that it had been digitally manipulated.
“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI,” Gumi said, urging the public not to be misled by fabricated content online.
Sheikh Gumi further reiterated that he has not been arrested and remains free in Nigeria, describing the reports circulating on social media as entirely untrue.
The viral image was shared alongside claims alleging that Gumi was intercepted by U.S. military personnel while allegedly attempting to flee the country to Turkey. The claims also referenced unverified accusations linking him to terrorist groups and their operational camps.
As of the time of reporting, no official statement from Nigerian or U.S. authorities has corroborated the allegations circulating online.
