Saudi Arabia deports Sheikh Gumi again, denying him entry for 2025 Hajj despite valid visa

Renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has been deported from Saudi Arabia for the second time—this time just as he was about to take part in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

The Kaduna-based cleric, widely known across Nigeria for his outspoken stances on national security, negotiations with bandits, and international politics, arrived at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina on Saturday night aboard an Umza Air flight.

He was part of a high-profile delegation of religious scholars sponsored by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Every member of the group, including Gumi, held valid visas and had met all standard requirements.

Yet Saudi immigration officials stopped him at the airport. Despite his approved visa, Gumi was refused entry into Medina and immediately put on a return flight to Nigeria.

On Monday, Sheikh Gumi took to his official Facebook page to inform his followers directly. In a measured but pointed message, he wrote: “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.”

He added that Nigerian authorities had expressed concern and promised to engage Saudi officials for clarification and a resolution, saying: “I am grateful to the authorities in Nigeria who have pledged to engage with the Saudi authorities on this matter.”

An anonymous source within NAHCON confirmed the deportation, expressing surprise at the decision.

The commission had anticipated a smooth entry for the entire delegation. No official explanation has come from Saudi Arabia.

Observers, however, link the deportation to Sheikh Gumi’s long-standing controversial positions—particularly his prominent role in peace dialogues with armed groups in northern Nigeria and his frequent criticism of Western and Middle Eastern political interventions.

The move has ignited heated discussions in religious circles and among the Nigerian public, with many questioning how political and ideological differences can affect even the sacred right to perform Hajj.

As of the latest reports, neither the Saudi embassy in Nigeria nor the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official statement.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Gumi has already resumed his public preaching and teaching engagements back home.

This is not the first time Saudi authorities have barred him. In 2010, he was detained for about six months over alleged links and email correspondence with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian “underwear bomber” behind the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt.

He was eventually released and deported to Nigeria following diplomatic intervention by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Many now see the 2025 denial as the enforcement of a long-standing entry ban, marking this as the second major deportation in the cleric’s relationship with the Kingdom.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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