Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said he is “not surprised” by reports that his name may be included in a proposed United States sanctions list targeting Nigerian officials accused of promoting blasphemy laws and tolerating religious violence.
The proposed U.S. legislation, now before Congress, seeks to impose visa restrictions, asset freezes, and other financial penalties on Nigerian government officials, judges, traditional rulers, and religious leaders allegedly involved in such acts.
The bill specifically mentions 12 northern states — Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe — where Sharia law has been expanded to include criminal provisions since 1999.
So far, none of the governors from these states has made any official comment on the development.
According to details of the proposed legislation, the sanctions would apply to any Nigerian official found to have promoted, enforced, or tolerated blasphemy laws that violate international standards of freedom of religion and belief.
Under the proposed law, the U.S. Secretary of State would be required to submit a detailed report within 90 days of the bill’s passage, identifying Nigerian officials who could face sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability framework.
The report would cover a period of ten years preceding the enactment of the legislation and would be updated annually.
Specifically, it targets “judges, magistrates, prison officials, or other judicial or law enforcement authorities” who have enforced blasphemy laws through prosecution, imprisonment, or other forms of punishment.
The U.S. Congress noted that the move is in response to what it described as “a culture of impunity” surrounding blasphemy-related violence in northern Nigeria and the government’s “failure to protect religious minorities.”
Nigeria’s Sharia legal system has existed for decades, but the current controversy dates back to 1999, when several northern states expanded Sharia to cover criminal law shortly after the country’s return to democracy.
Zamfara State, under former governor Ahmad Sani Yerima, was the first to adopt full Sharia law. Within two years, 11 other states followed suit, creating a dual legal system where both secular and Sharia courts operate side by side.
While supporters of Sharia argue that it reflects the moral and religious values of Muslims in northern Nigeria, critics both local and international — say its criminal application often violates Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights agreements.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that blasphemy laws under Sharia are being used to silence dissent and target religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims with liberal views.
The United States’ renewed concern follows several high-profile blasphemy cases and mob killings in northern Nigeria over the past decade.
One of the most widely reported cases is that of Mubarak Bala, a humanist and President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison in Kano in 2022 for allegedly making blasphemous statements on social media.
Another case is that of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Kano-based musician sentenced to death by a Sharia court in 2020 for composing a song deemed blasphemous. His case is still on appeal.
There was also the tragic killing of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, who was stoned to death in May 2022 after being accused of making “blasphemous” comments in a class WhatsApp group.
Other victims include Usman Buda in Sokoto, Roda Jatau in Bauchi, Christina Oluwatoyin in Gombe, Sadik Mani in Katsina, and Amaye, a food vendor reportedly lynched in Niger State.
Many of these incidents sparked international outrage but led to few or no convictions, prompting criticism that Nigerian authorities have failed to protect citizens from religiously motivated violence.
Groups such as Amnesty International, Humanists International, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have repeatedly called on Nigeria to repeal blasphemy laws and strengthen protection for freedom of expression.
Reacting to the development, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric known for his outspoken views on national security and religious issues said he was not surprised by the U.S. action.
In an interview on Tuesday, Gumi said he had not seen any official document listing his name but would not be shocked if he was included.
“Well, I didn’t even know they mentioned my name. I haven’t seen it in the papers, and no one communicated it to me. But it’s not surprising; anyone who speaks against cutting ties with America, of course they wouldn’t like him. May God protect us,” Gumi said.
Speaking further during a live broadcast on his Facebook page from Turkey on Sunday, the cleric urged Nigerians not to be distracted by the sanctions debate. He called for unity and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, saying that true faith does not support violence.
“Let us live in peace. If we live peacefully, the evil plans of the West will not succeed against us,” he said.
“Do not worry about their noise. Allah will not grant them victory. We must hold firmly to our religion and fear Allah. It is not by killing Christians or insulting them; they are our partners in nation building.”
Broadcasting from the historic Haifa Mosque in Sofia, Turkey, Gumi pointed to the mosque’s history as a former church that now stands as “a symbol of peace and coexistence.”
“This mosque used to be a church,” he said, “but today it stands as a symbol of peace and coexistence, not war. That is what good relationship brings.”
Despite the growing international attention, the 12 northern governors whose states are mentioned in the proposed U.S. bill have not issued any official statement.
Efforts by journalists to reach their media aides and commissioners for information in several states including Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Bauchi were unsuccessful as of press time.
For now, the proposed sanctions are still at the legislative stage in Washington and must be passed by both houses of Congress before being signed into law by the U.S. President.
If enacted, it would mark the first time the United States imposes direct sanctions on Nigerian officials over religious freedom violations.
Diplomatic observers say such a move could strain relations between Washington and Abuja, particularly at a time when Nigeria is seeking greater international support for economic and security challenges.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates have welcomed the U.S. initiative, saying it could pressure Nigerian leaders to reform laws and policies that threaten freedom of religion.
For ordinary Nigerians, however, the focus remains on peace and stability. As Sheikh Gumi noted in his message, “We must learn to live together in peace — that is the only way Nigeria will move forward.”
