Saudi Arabian authorities have barred controversial Nigerian Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, whose actions often divide opinions, from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Sheikh Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric was deported back to Nigeria on May 25, 2025, despite holding a valid visa.
This was confirmed in a statement Sheikh Gumi posted on his official Facebook post on May 26, 2025.
He stated that Saudi authorities denied him entry into Medina, the starting point for the Hajj rites, citing discomfort with his political commentary.
Gumi was part of a Nigerian delegation sponsored by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and arrived in Medina on May 24, 2025, via Umza Air.
“Due to some reasons related to my views on world politics, the authorities in Saudi Arabia do not want me to be present at Hajj even though they have granted me a visa,” Gumi stated on Facebook.
While the real reason for Sheikh Gumi’s deportation remains sketchy as of press time, it comes as the Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense has long emphasized strict regulations for Hajj, including the risk of fines, imprisonment, or deportation for those who violate visa or permit rules.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia has a history of cracking down on individuals perceived as threats to national security, especially during high-profile religious events like Hajj.
Recall also that Gumi gained national attention for his self-appointed role as a mediator in Nigeria’s escalating kidnap-for-ransom crisis, particularly in the northern regions.
Since 2021, he has actively engaged in negotiations with bandits involved in abductions.
His approach typically includes meeting with bandit leaders in various states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger.
Sheikh Gumi had also publicly advocated for amnesty for bandits, arguing that if coup plotters could be pardoned during Nigeria’s military era, bandits should receive similar forgiveness under democratic rule.
However, his methods have been highly controversial.
