Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has criticised the recent airstrikes carried out by the United States on terrorist camps in north-western Nigeria, describing the action as potentially divisive and harmful to the country’s sovereignty.
His reaction follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump that American forces had conducted “numerous deadly strikes” in north-western Nigeria. Trump said the strikes targeted Islamic State militants allegedly attacking Christians.
The Federal Government later confirmed that Nigeria is engaged in ongoing security and intelligence cooperation with the United States.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the collaboration that resulted in the precision airstrikes includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, and is conducted in line with international law and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty. The ministry also stressed that all counter-terrorism measures are guided by the protection of civilians and the preservation of national unity.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Friday, Gumi stated that destroying terrorist groups is an obligation in Islam, recalling that the Prophet Muhammad wished for the elimination of such elements. However, he argued that this responsibility should be carried out by “clean, holy hands” and not by foreign powers which, he claimed, have a history of killing innocent civilians.
The cleric called on the Federal Government to discontinue military cooperation with the United States and instead seek support from what he described as “neutral countries” such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan. He also maintained that aerial bombardment alone cannot resolve terrorism, insisting that Nigeria has enough manpower to address the problem through ground operations.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies. If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.
“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theater of war. The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarize our nation and infringe on our sovereignty
“Nigeria should halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide and seek the help of those neutral countries mentioned. Nigerians are too educated to be played with. This is going to be a 2027 campaign discourse.
“Meanwhile, dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground, which, if we are serious, we have enough men to do that. We call on all villages affected to upload videos and pictures of any casualties involved.”
Gumi further criticised the choice of Sokoto as one of the areas affected by the airstrikes, describing it as a predominantly Muslim region with little immediate terrorist threat. He suggested that the timing and location of the strikes carried a deeper symbolism.
“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger neo-Crusade war against Islam. Attack on Sokoto, where 90% are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri and on a Christmas Eve, with the claim of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot. We believe the terror is manufactured and sustained by the same people claiming to fight it,” he said.
What you should know
The US airstrikes in north-western Nigeria have sparked debate over foreign military involvement in the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.
While the Federal Government says the operation followed intelligence sharing and respects Nigeria’s sovereignty, critics like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi argue it could deepen religious and political divisions. The controversy highlights broader concerns about national sovereignty, foreign influence, and the effectiveness of airstrikes versus ground operations in addressing terrorism.
The issue is also emerging as a sensitive topic in public discourse, with implications for security policy and national unity.
