Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed reports of an alleged “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing them as a deliberate attempt to attack Shariah law and promote Islamophobia against Muslims.
Gumi made the statement on Tuesday through a post on his verified Facebook page, where he reacted to recent international claims that Christians in Nigeria are facing systematic persecution.
He said those pushing the “Christian genocide” narrative were part of a larger campaign to discredit Islam and misrepresent Muslims as violent extremists.
“After the fog has cleared, the alleged ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria is all about a well-drawn-out plan to attack the Shariah law and promote Islamophobia,” Gumi wrote.
According to him, the narrative of targeted killings of Christians was being exaggerated by foreign groups and local sympathisers to cause religious division and portray Muslims in a negative light.
Gumi’s comments come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s human rights and religious freedom record.
Last week, reports circulated that U.S. President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) — a classification reserved for nations accused of serious violations of religious freedom.
In a statement attributed to him, Trump reportedly said the Nigerian government had failed to protect Christians and other religious minorities from attacks by armed groups.
The U.S. leader also hinted at possible sanctions or military actions against Nigeria if such alleged violations continued.
However, the Nigerian government has strongly denied any form of religious persecution, insisting that the security crisis in the country is not based on religion, but rather on criminality, banditry, and communal conflicts affecting both Christians and Muslims.
Officials argue that both faiths have suffered losses from terrorist and bandit attacks across northern and central Nigeria.
In his post, Sheikh Gumi highlighted that Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity and violence should not be mistaken for a religious war.
He argued that the violence affecting communities across the North and Middle Belt has economic, ethnic, and political roots, not religious motives.
“What we are witnessing in Nigeria is not a war between Christians and Muslims,” he explained.
“It is a conflict driven by poverty, injustice, and competition for resources. To call it a Christian genocide is misleading and dangerous.”
Gumi urged both local and international organisations to be cautious in their reports, saying inaccurate claims could worsen tensions among religious groups.
“Some people are using religion to divide Nigerians. They want to turn the world against Islam by presenting Muslims as the problem,” he said.
“This kind of propaganda has caused so much misunderstanding and hatred in the past, and it should not be allowed to continue.”
Although the federal government has not directly responded to Gumi’s latest statement, officials have previously criticised what they described as “biased foreign reports” on Nigeria’s religious situation.
The Minister of Information, in earlier comments, maintained that the country remains committed to freedom of religion, which is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
He said: “Nigeria is a multi-religious country. Both Islam and Christianity are practiced freely in all parts of the country. There is no official policy that discriminates against any religion.”
Leaders of both Christian and Muslim groups have often called for unity and caution in the face of such claims.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has consistently drawn attention to the killing of Christians in parts of the country but also appealed for calm and prayers for peace.
On the other hand, Muslim clerics like Sheikh Gumi have argued that Muslims are also frequent victims of banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes, especially in the North-West and North-East regions.
Over the years, terrorist attacks, herder-farmer clashes, and banditry have affected both Muslim and Christian communities across Nigeria.
In states like Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Borno, thousands have been killed and displaced regardless of religion.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is known for his outspoken views on national issues, particularly on insecurity and the role of religion in Nigeria.
In recent years, he has been involved in mediation efforts with bandit groups in northern Nigeria, urging the government to adopt a negotiation-based approach to end the violence.
While some have praised his efforts, others have accused him of being too sympathetic to armed groups — an allegation he has repeatedly denied.