The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for allegedly offering moral and propaganda support to terrorists operating in Nigeria’s North-West region.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group accused Gumi of repeatedly defending the activities of armed bandits responsible for widespread killings, abductions, and destruction across northern communities.
HURIWA expressed dismay that while the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been detained for nearly a decade over his self-determination campaign, Gumi continues to walk freely despite his open advocacy for amnesty for what the group described as “mass murderers and terrorists.”
The association reminded the President that Nigeria’s amended 2022 Counter-Terrorism Act prescribes capital punishment for certain terrorism-related offences, adding that the law clearly defines acts such as promoting or disseminating information capable of causing panic or encouraging violence as terrorism.
HURIWA also condemned what it described as “state-sponsored protests” in parts of the North against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to bomb terrorist enclaves in Africa, including Nigeria. The group warned that such demonstrations could indicate that some politicians and officials are complicit in funding or sympathising with terrorist networks.
“The protests against Trump’s comments are disturbing and raise concerns that some powerful figures may actually be shielding or sponsoring terrorists,” HURIWA stated.
“President Trump’s comments were clearly directed at terrorist elements, not at Nigeria. It is mischievous and dangerous to twist his words to suggest he threatened to bomb the country itself,” the group added.
The association cited recent comments by Prophet Isa El-Buba of El-Buba Outreach Ministries, who similarly called for Gumi’s arrest, arguing that his connections to bandit leaders could help unravel the roots of Nigeria’s insecurity.
HURIWA further alleged that groups such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have made statements amounting to threats against national peace, describing them as “complicit” in the northern security crisis.
“Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution does not grant freedom to promote terrorism,” HURIWA insisted. “It is discriminatory that Nnamdi Kanu remains detained while Sheikh Gumi, who openly propagates the ideology of terrorists, moves about freely as if untouchable.”
The rights group called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged sponsors of the protests and those funding terrorist propaganda across the country.