Popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has prayed for divine wrath against all those responsible for the worsening insecurity and bloodshed across Nigeria. The cleric issued the prayer on Thursday in a Facebook post, invoking God’s immediate punishment on individuals or groups benefitting from the nation’s tragedy.
Gumi, who has long been vocal about Nigeria’s security challenges, wrote:
“My prayer today: Ya Allah! Whoever initiated or is behind this insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria, whether foreign or citizen, or has any benefit, material or otherwise, or is even happy that people are being killed, or willingly did nothing to stop it, may by Your divine power be exposed and Your anger poured upon them and punished immediately without harm to the innocent. Amin.”
According to him, anyone responsible, complicit, or benefitting from the violence ravaging communities across the country should face divine judgement, while the innocent must be spared.
A prayer rooted in a worsening security landscape
Gumi’s remarks come amid a fresh wave of abductions and violent attacks across Nigeria. Several states have reported renewed incidents of mass kidnappings, heightening public anxiety and deepening calls for accountability.
Just last month, armed bandits stormed Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in the Eruku area of Kwara State, kidnapping a number of worshippers during a night service. Though about 38 of the abductees have since regained their freedom, the incident added to growing nationwide concerns over the vulnerability of religious gatherings and rural communities.
Similarly, 10 residents were abducted in Biresawa and Tsundu communities in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State last week. Troops of Operation MESA under the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army later rescued the victims, offering temporary relief to families and residents of the affected communities.
Why Gumi’s message resonates
As a high-profile cleric deeply involved in public conversations about banditry and peacebuilding, Gumi’s statements often spark significant debate. While he has previously advocated dialogue with armed groups and emphasized addressing socio-economic drivers of violence, his latest prayer signals a more forceful moral condemnation.
By framing Nigeria’s insecurity as not only a political failure but also a spiritual and ethical crisis, Gumi taps into the deep frustration felt by millions of our people who believe the suffering has persisted far too long.
His call is, in essence, both:
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A plea for divine justice, and
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A demand for accountability—from the government, communities, and actors directly or indirectly enabling the violence.
A nation yearning for relief
The continuous cycle of kidnappings, killings, and community raids has shaken public confidence in security institutions. Families of victims, religious groups, and civic leaders have repeatedly urged the government to intensify efforts to protect citizens and dismantle criminal networks fueling the unrest.
Against this backdrop, Gumi’s prayer captures the sentiment of a nation eager for intervention—divine or otherwise—as Nigerians hope for an end to the widespread suffering.
