Sheikh Gumi debunks viral ‘US arrest’ claims, says image was AI-generated

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has dismissed widespread reports circulating on social media alleging that he was arrested by United States military operatives shortly after their arrival in Nigeria.

The Nigerian social media space was flooded on Thursday with posts and images purportedly showing the cleric being apprehended by two American soldiers.

The images quickly went viral, accompanied by claims suggesting that the alleged arrest was linked to a foreign-led counterterrorism operation within Nigerian territory.

However, reacting to the development, Sheikh Gumi categorically denied the reports, describing the viral image as artificially generated and misleading.

He insisted that he was never arrested and had not engaged in any activity that would warrant such an action.

Addressing the rumours in a post shared on his Facebook page late Thursday, the cleric described the claims as false and illogical, questioning the possibility of foreign military operatives arresting him within Nigeria.

“The US Army cannot arrest me in Nigeria. Why will the US Army come and arrest me in Nigeria, and for what reason?” he wrote.

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Gumi further stressed that the image circulating online was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting that its inauthenticity should be obvious even to casual observers.

“The image is Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated. Even a layman will know that the image is AI. I have not been arrested,” he stated.

He emphasised that he remains free and continues to reside in Nigeria, urging the public to disregard the viral reports.

The incident highlights the growing concern over the misuse of artificial intelligence tools and digital manipulation in spreading misinformation, particularly on sensitive political and security-related issues.

Observers have warned that the rapid spread of such fabricated content poses a significant challenge to information credibility and public trust, especially in an era where AI-generated images and videos are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic material.