The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has urged the Nigerian government to launch a formal investigation into recent claims made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, alleging that Christian communities are staging funerals with empty coffins to fabricate narratives of religious killings.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC described the allegation as “too grave to be waved aside,” noting that such claims, coming from a figure of Gumi’s influence, carry serious implications for national cohesion and interfaith relations.
Nwanguma warned that Nigeria is already battling deep-seated distrust, sectarian tensions, and escalating violence in several regions. He said an allegation suggesting that Christian communities are deliberately staging burials to promote the perception of a genocide is “extraordinarily serious” and capable of inflaming divisions, distorting public perception, and undermining efforts to address genuine human rights abuses.
“For these reasons, the Nigerian authorities cannot ignore Sheikh Gumi’s claim,” the statement reads.
RULAAC insisted that the allegation must be investigated transparently and conclusively. The group said Gumi should be required to disclose the identity of the medical doctor who allegedly provided the information, along with any evidence to support the claim.
Nwanguma said if the allegation is proven true, it would amount to a deliberate act of disinformation capable of triggering national unrest, and those responsible should face prosecution.
Conversely, if the claim is found to be false, he said it would constitute a “reckless and inflammatory” statement that endangers social harmony and could itself warrant legal consequences.
“Nigeria cannot afford the luxury of unchecked statements that deepen divisions or weaponise religious identities,” Nwanguma added. “The truth must be unravelled, and appropriate actions taken—whatever the findings reveal.”
