In 2010, the Saudi government detained Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for six months over alleged links and email correspondence with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the "underwear bomber".
Abdulmutallab, a young Nigerian who got radicalized and joined ISIS was said to be having some relationship with Gumi shortly before he attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, U.S. on 25 December 2009.
Abdulmutallab was convicted of terrorism and sentenced to four life terms plus 50 years without parole on February 16, 2012, after acknowledging in a courtroom statement that he had traveled to Yemen and was greatly inspired to avenge what he described as ‘US tyranny and oppression of Muslims’ in the Middle East.
It took the Goodluck Jonathan's government intervention for the Saudis to release and deport Gumi back to Nigeria.
In May 2025, the Saudi authorities prevented Gumi from taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage and subsequently deported him to Nigeria. That was Gumi's first visit to the country since his deportation in 2010.
When you see Gumi romanticing terrorists in Nigeria, do not be surprised because he has a history of having 'good relationships' with international terrorists.
