Prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against alleged plans to bring Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, into Nigeria, claiming such a move could lead to the “clandestine murder of Muslim leaders.”
In a statement posted on his social media page, Gumi alleged that Mossad’s presence in the country would expose Muslim figures to danger. He linked his fears to the death of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, insisting the military ruler was poisoned after hosting Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat in Abuja in 1998.
“How can this genocidal apartheid government have a footing in Nigeria?” he queried, warning Tinubu that “any such collaboration will cost him a lot more than he may gain.”
Concern for Militants He Defends
Analysts say Gumi’s concerns are less about Muslim leaders generally and more about his long-standing defense of militants and armed groups in northern Nigeria. Over the years, he has repeatedly attacked government security agencies for arresting or killing suspected terrorists, instead advocating negotiations with them.
Critics argue that Mossad’s reputation for aggressively tracking and eliminating Islamist extremists worldwide is what fuels Gumi’s alarm. For many, his warning is interpreted as an indirect admission that those he calls “victims of state neglect” — bandits and insurgents — could be targeted if Nigeria partners with Israel’s intelligence service.
A Track Record That Alarms Him
Mossad is globally known for its uncompromising counter-terror operations, ranging from the capture of Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann to targeted assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah commanders. Its reputation for precision strikes against Islamic militants across the Middle East makes it one of the most feared intelligence agencies in the world.
Security experts note that for clerics like Gumi, who often speak sympathetically about militant groups, Mossad’s involvement in Nigeria could signal the beginning of a ruthless crackdown on networks that have operated with relative impunity.
Mixed Reactions
While some view Gumi’s comments as baseless conspiracy, others see them as revealing his true worry: that foreign involvement could endanger his protégés and allies among insurgent circles. Critics accuse him of once again shielding violent groups under the guise of religious advocacy.
Nevertheless, his comments have drawn attention to the possibility that closer cooperation with Israel could change Nigeria’s counter-terrorism landscape dramatically.
Warning to Tinubu
Gumi’s central message to Tinubu was laced with a cautionary tone: “Collaboration with such a government will cost him more than he may gain,” he wrote, insisting that Mossad’s presence would endanger Muslim leaders and spark unrest.
So far, the Presidency has not responded to his claims.
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