By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has denied claims that he said he was being targeted for elimination by the United States during recent airstrikes on terrorist locations in Sokoto State, Tribune Online reports.
Gumi, in a post on Facebook on Sunday said reports making the rounds were false and based on a misinterpretation of an old video in which he spoke about a threat to his life more than a decade ago, stressing that the incident had nothing to do with the United States.
According to him, the confusion arose from a mosque lecture in which he recounted how two individuals allegedly sent to carry out the assassination in 2012 were killed when a bomb detonated in their hands near his residence.
The cleric stated that he is currently safe and living comfortably with his family, without fear, intimidation or apprehension.
Gumi also called on media organisations that reported the claim to publicly retract the stories and issue apologies.
He said, “FAKE NEWS!
“There is fake news going viral now that wrongly claims that I said I was targeted by the US attack on Nigerian soil, or something to that effect.
“I never said so, and I also never thought of such a possibility. I am comfortably staying in my home with my family without fear, intimidation, or apprehension.
“I believe the source of misinterpretation was a lecture I gave in the mosque on how, in August 2012, I was told that Boko Haram had targeted me for elimination. The two people who came to execute the plan were killed instantly when the bomb detonated in their hands near my house.
“I advise all news agencies that reported the fake news to publicly retract it and tender their apologies.”