I was marked for elimination during US air strike in Sokoto – Gumi allegies 

 Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic scholar based in Kaduna, has claimed he narrowly escaped being targeted during a United States-linked air operation in Nigeria after learning he had allegedly been flagged as a Boko Haram figure.

The cleric revealed this while narrating developments surrounding recent US air strikes aimed at extremist groups operating in the country’s north-west and north-east regions.

According to Gumi, he received a warning call on the same day a bombing occurred, alerting him to a security briefing in which his name was reportedly included among those slated for elimination.

“There was a bombing here; the morning it happened, I received a call I won’t tell you who called me but I was told a security briefing was taking place and I was listed among those who will be eliminated as Boko Haram,” Gumi said.

On December 25, the United States carried out a series of air strikes against fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Sokoto.

The action came after President Donald Trump issued a threat that the US would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing Christians”.

Reacting to the development, Gumi condemned the involvement of foreign forces in Nigeria’s security challenges, insisting that such actions aggravate violence instead of ending it.

“They claim to have come here to fight terrorists, but they are the actual terrorists,” he said.

The cleric further lamented what he described as the lack of meaningful response from political and religious authorities in northern Nigeria following persistent attacks by Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated groups.

“The north, you all know they attacked, but where are your leaders and what have they done about it?” Gumi asked.

He also took aim at religious scholars, accusing them of remaining silent in the face of misinformation spread by terrorists and alleging unequal support for victims.

“They attacked us for false claims, and they give support of a certain amount of money to Christians alone. No country will accept that. Either you give support to the entire nation or we don’t need it,” Gumi said.

“It happens and nobody is talking; they are all afraid to talk. That’s the situation we are in this country.”