Primate Elijah Ayodele has criticized Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for statements that appear to support terrorist activities, warning that his rhetoric misrepresents Islam. In a video released on November 28, 2025, Ayodele said Gumi’s actions undermine Islam’s core values of peace, discipline, and accountability, and embarrass the faith by elevating terrorists above the Nigerian state.
Ayodele emphasized that defending violent actors reinforces negative stereotypes about Muslims and harms the religion’s reputation. He called on the Nigerian government to investigate Gumi’s conduct and urged Islamic leaders to correct the narrative, stressing that true Islamic principles reject violence and uphold human dignity.
Ayodele warned that ignoring such issues could worsen national insecurity and further damage public perception of Islam.
