The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the arrest and prosecution of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, accusing him of defending terrorists in northern Nigeria. The group criticized the federal government for selective enforcement of counter-terrorism laws, contrasting Gumi's freedom with the prolonged detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. HURIWA also condemned protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's offer of military aid against terrorists.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, for allegedly providing intellectual support to terrorists in Nigeria's North-West region. The group highlighted Gumi's public advocacy for amnesty for bandits, whom he has described as seeking peace rather than secession. Gumi recently compared bandits favorably to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stating, “It’s unlike the others like IPOB. The government has been trying to dialogue with them; they still refuse. They are still behind creating a separate state. They are secessionists. Besides being terrorists, they are secessionists. Well, these people (bandits) are not secessionists. They want peace.”
HURIWA pointed out the irony of the federal government detaining IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for over 10 years on self-determination charges while overlooking Gumi's actions. The group invoked Section 1(3) of Nigeria's 2022 Terrorism (Prevention) Act, which defines terrorism as acts intended to further ideologies that harm the country, intimidate populations, or destabilize structures, including attacks causing death, kidnapping, or destruction of infrastructure.
Additionally, HURIWA criticized northern states for allegedly funding protests rejecting Trump's proposed military assistance against terrorists responsible for over 40,000 deaths, mostly Christians, and the destruction of churches and moderate Muslim places of worship. The group suggested these protests reveal sponsorship by top politicians linked to terrorism and urged the Department of State Services and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate. HURIWA supported calls for Gumi's arrest by Prophet Isa El-Buba of El-Buba Outreach Ministries, who claimed in a News Central TV interview that Gumi's bandit connections could resolve Nigeria's security issues swiftly if addressed.
The rights body questioned misinterpretations of Trump's statements as threats against Nigeria, quoting, “President Trump only made threats to massively bomb terrorists in their hideouts. How then are some Nigerians interpreting that to mean that Trump is threatening to bomb Nigeria? Maybe some of us are missing some vital information regarding how well connected these sponsors of terrorists are, to the point that they are now moulding the official narratives of the Federal Government to appear as though Trump is threatening to bomb Nigeria.” HURIWA emphasized that constitutional provisions in Chapter 4 do not endorse public support for terrorist positions.