Nigerians Not Involved in Terrorism Financing, Sheikh Gumi Challenges FG’s List

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a controversial Islamic cleric, has opposed the Federal Government’s recently released list linking individuals and entities to terrorism financing in Nigeria.

According to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, were identified as allegedly involved in terrorism financing during a meeting of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee on March 18, 2024.

Tukur Mamu, an ally of Gumi and a Kaduna-based publisher, was prominently listed for allegedly aiding terrorists involved in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack by facilitating ransom payments totaling $200,000 to ISWAP terrorists.

Gumi disputed the allegations during a Twitter Spaces session organized by Daily Trust, asserting that Nigerians wouldn’t fund terrorism, suggesting that terrorists finance themselves through ransom payments from kidnapped victims’ families.

He criticized the practice of labeling political opponents as terrorist financiers and emphasized that Mamu’s guilt or innocence should be determined by the court rather than through media trials.

Regarding his intention to negotiate with bandits for the release of abducted schoolchildren, Gumi urged President Bola Tinubu not to repeat the mistake of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who declined to engage with bandits.