Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi has denied viral claims that he was arrested by United States military personnel in Nigeria, describing a widely circulated image used to support the allegation as “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated”.
Gatekeepers News reports that the speculation followed the circulation of a photograph on Thursday, February 5, which purportedly showed Gumi being detained by U.S. soldiers at an airport. The image quickly gained traction on social media, with accompanying claims that the alleged arrest was part of a foreign-led counterterrorism operation in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, Gumi dismissed the reports as baseless and illogical.
“The US Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria. Why will the US army come and arrest me in Nigeria, for what reason?” he said.
He also rejected the authenticity of the image, insisting it had been digitally fabricated.
“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI,” Gumi said, stressing that the photograph was misleading and should not be believed.
He reiterated that he was not in custody.
“I have not been arrested,” he said, adding that the reports circulating online were entirely false and that he remains at liberty in Nigeria.
The image was circulated alongside text alleging that Gumi had been seized by U.S. military operatives at a Nigerian airport while attempting to flee to Turkey. The claims also cited unverified accusations linking the cleric to terrorist groups and their bases.
