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Claim: Some social media users claimed Islamic cleric, Gumi, has threatened Nigeria’s Defence Minister over bandits’ killings.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s findings indicate that the claim lacks a credible source. Moreover, Gumi has debunked the statement and filed a suit against the initial claimants over death threats and defamation.
Full Text
Earlier in December 2025, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, was screened by the Senate House to be confirmed as the new Minister for Defence. During the Screening, Musa told the legislators that the military and the rest of the country must confront the challenges facing the country deliberately.
Recently, an X user, @BiaPulse, shared a post claiming that popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, threatened to annihilate Musa’s family in Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, if the defence minister does not cease to carry out offensives against bandits.
“‘Breaking News: If the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, doesn’t stop his military offensive against bandits, his entire family in Zango Kataf in Southern Kaduna will be eliminated.’- Gumi” The X user wrote.
As of Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, the X post has garnered 184,900 views, 813 comments, 1,200 retweets, 1,800 likes, and 197 bookmarks.
Other X users expressed opposing views on the post, with some dismissing it as fake and others condemning the alleged statement.
“This should be fake news,” @akinwale_cfi commented.
“This is false,” @FortuneMan05 pointed out.
“Gumi threatening the Nigerian State? @Anitlaurel queried.
“Imagine the (audacity),” @travelfashionex wrote.
Due to the contrasting views expressed about the post and its sensitivity in Nigeria’s political discourse, DUBAWA decided to verify it.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a thorough Google search of the alleged statement by the Islamic cleric, which led us to Facebook accounts that had only quoted Gumi, as seen here and here.
Although none of the Facebook users cited any reputable news or other sources that quoted Gumi’s statement, DUBAWA carefully conducted a keyword search to see whether any news outlet had reported it. However, we found none.
Upon checking the Islamic cleric’s verified Facebook handle, DUBAWA noticed that he has publicly filed criminal complaints against Facebook users, George Udom and Bello Isiaka, for “Death Threats” and “Defamation.”
The suit, with number KMD/685/25, was filed before the Chief Magistrate Court of Kaduna State on Dec. 24, 2025.
Premium Times reported that Gumi filed the suit to serve as a deterrent to other social media users who are in the habit of spreading false and defamatory content.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s findings indicate that there was no such report in any reputable source or news outlet. Moreover, the Islamic leader has decided to sue the claimants for death threats and defamation. The claim is false.
