Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has condemned the United States’ recent attacks on terrorist camps in northwestern Nigeria.
He called the attacks potentially divisive and damaging to national sovereignty.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s admission that US soldiers conducted “numerous deadly strikes” in northwestern Nigeria.
According to Trump, the strikes were directed at Islamic State terrorists who targeted Christians, and the Federal Government confirmed continuous security and intelligence cooperation with the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the collaboration, which led to precision airstrikes, involves intelligence sharing and strategic coordination in line with international law and Nigeria’s sovereignty. It emphasized that all counter-terrorism efforts prioritize civilian protection and national unity.
In a post on Facebook on Friday, Gumi argued that annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s wish to destroy such groups.
However, he stressed that such action should be undertaken by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign powers whose past, he claimed, includes killing innocent civilians.
Gumi urged the Federal Government to stop military cooperation with the US and instead seek assistance from “neutral countries” such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan. He added that dropping bombs cannot tackle terrorism effectively, noting that Nigeria has sufficient personnel for 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.
“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 also described the airstrikes on Sokoto, a largely Muslim area, as symbolic of a neo-Crusade war against Islam and criticized the focus on regions with minimal immediate terrorist threats.
“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger of a neo-Crusade war against Islam. The attack on Sokoto, where 90% are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri on 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.
“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.
