“Can Anybody Stop Me?” — Ahmad Gumi Fires Back Over Ibadan Visit, Islamisation Claims

Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has responded forcefully to criticisms surrounding his visit to Ibadan last year, dismissing allegations that he was promoting the Islamisation of Oyo State or advancing northern religious ideologies in the South-West region of Nigeria. The cleric insisted that no individual or group could prevent him from travelling to any part of the country, stressing that his visit to Ibadan was not at the invitation of any Muslim organisation or individual in the South-West.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Gumi explained that he attended the event in his capacity as a representative of a coalition of northern Islamic scholars. He wrote, “I now understand how Islamophobia is shaping politics in the South-West and why I was dragged into local political controversies. I was in Ibadan not at the invitation of any South-West Muslim individual or group, but as a representative of the Coalition of Northern Muslim Ulama.” Gumi then posed a direct rhetorical question to his critics: “Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria? ” Describing the reactions to his visit as surprising, Gumi added, “It’s strange how some people think!” He further alleged that the controversy surrounding his visit was being orchestrated to deepen divisions within the country, stating, “I believe the whole saga is tele-guided by both foreign and local interests to promote a narrative and polarise the country.”

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi visited Ibadan on November 19, 2025, as a guest speaker at the Southern Nigerian Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan. During the visit, he also participated in a courtesy meeting attended by prominent Muslim scholars from both the northern and southern parts of the country. The visit sparked controversy in Oyo State, with critics questioning its purpose and expressing concerns about its religious and political implications. Some accused Gumi of attempting to promote northern Islamic ideologies and advance the Islamisation of Oyo State, allegations he has now dismissed as baseless.

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Gumi’s comments came a day after one of the victims abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State refuted reports that the kidnappers had demanded the introduction of Sharia law in the state as a condition for their release. The victim, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who spoke from captivity in a video that later went viral, said the abductors neither demanded Sharia law nor a N1 billion ransom. According to her, the kidnappers sought the release of their associates currently in government custody. In the video recorded while in captivity, Mrs. Alamu stated: “Everyone, please I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 24th day that we have been in this place and it seems that some people are making our problems complicated already.” She further clarified: “We have been here and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money.” She made an emotional appeal to Nigerians, saying: “Please, we are begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us circulate this. Let it go viral. They are not asking for Sharia law. It is not true. They are not asking for weapons. They are not asking for money.” According to her, the abductors’ only demand is “the release of some of their people” currently in government custody.

The claim regarding Sharia law demands was also rejected by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) , which described reports linking the abduction to demands for Sharia law as false. MURIC described the report as “a lie from the pit of Jahannam (hell)” and argued that the so-called demand was inserted by enemies of Islam in the negotiation team to tarnish the image of Islam. The organisation insisted that kidnapping, terrorism and extortion are contrary to the teachings of Islam and should not be justified under any religious guise. “Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” the organisation stated.

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The Muslim community in Oyo State has also strongly condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by the abductors, stressing that the criminals do not represent Islam or the values of the Muslim faithful. In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the community described the kidnappers’ actions as criminal, inhumane, and completely contrary to the teachings of Islam. According to the statement, Islam unequivocally condemns kidnapping, terrorism, violence, and the exploitation of innocent people for personal gain. It noted that genuine Sharia principles promote justice, peace, compassion, and the sanctity of human life—values that stand in direct opposition to the actions of criminal groups. The community further emphasized that the protection of human life remains a fundamental principle of Islam, citing relevant teachings from the Holy Qur’an that uphold the dignity and security of every individual.

Aligning himself with MURIC’s position, Gumi suggested that the controversy surrounding both the abduction and his Ibadan visit reflected growing attempts to marginalise Islamic influence in South-West politics. His comments came amid renewed debate over his November 2025 visit to Ibadan, which drew criticism from some quarters that accused him of attempting to promote northern Islamic ideologies in the South-West. Gumi said he now understood “how Islamophobia is shaping politics” in the region and suggested that he had been unnecessarily drawn into local political disputes. He expressed confidence that his constitutional right to free movement across all 36 states of the federation remains protected, regardless of religious or regional considerations. His assertion — “Can anybody stop me from going anywhere in Nigeria?” — underscores the constitutional guarantee of movement that cannot be abridged by religious or regional considerations.

The controversy surrounding Gumi’s Ibadan visit and the Oriire abduction allegations highlights the broader debate about the role of religious figures in national discourse and the extent to which regional sensitivities should influence movement and engagement across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious landscape. Gumi’s allegations of Islamophobia shaping South-West politics suggest a growing perception among some northern Muslim leaders that their presence and activities in the region are being viewed with increasing suspicion. Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement — a right Gumi has firmly asserted he will continue to exercise regardless of criticism. As the cleric himself put it, his position on the matter remains unchanged: no individual or group has the authority to determine where he can or cannot go within the borders of his own country.

“Can Anybody Stop Me?” — Ahmad Gumi Fires Back Over Ibadan Visit, Islamisation Claims