Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has rejected claims that he accused Christians in the Middle Belt of burying empty coffins to fabricate a narrative of genocide, saying his remarks were misinterpreted and wrongly attributed to him.
His response followed a video released by Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo, who cited the burial of twenty-seven victims in Bindi-Jebbu, Riyom Local Government Area, and offered to exhume the graves to disprove what he described as a damaging allegation.
Speaking on Voice of The People TV, Gumi explained that he never accused Christians of staging burials. He said the claim came from a doctor who sent him a message, which he reposted on Facebook with a note expressing doubt about the information. He insisted that his caption made it clear he hoped the claim was untrue and stressed that the pastor misunderstood the context.
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Gumi said the pastor’s interpretation failed to recognise the caution in his wording. He added that the allegation in question belonged solely to the source who contacted him and should not have been linked to him. According to Gumi, his intention was to urge restraint at a moment of rising tension.
The exchange has drawn fresh attention to strained relations in the region, where accusations and counterclaims often deepen mistrust. It also arrives during a period of wider insecurity across the country, a situation that has prompted international scrutiny following recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump alleging widespread attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
