Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend military cooperation with the United States following reported American airstrikes, warning that foreign intervention could further complicate Nigeria’s fragile security landscape.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Friday, Gumi cautioned that continued US involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts risks undermining national sovereignty and escalating violence rather than resolving it. He argued that external military actions often come with concealed political interests and a troubling record of civilian casualties.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, the cleric maintained that such campaigns must be prosecuted by actors with what he described as “clean hands”. He questioned Washington’s moral standing, citing the United States’ history of military engagements across the globe.
Gumi contended that Nigeria erred by opening its security space to foreign powers, insisting that violent extremism cannot be defeated through what he characterised as proxy warfare. According to him, turning the country into a theatre of war could draw hostile forces into Nigeria, deepening instability and prolonging conflict.
He further warned that US involvement, particularly under narratives framed around the protection of Christians, could dangerously polarise the country along religious lines, compounding existing social fault lines.
The cleric also challenged the effectiveness of airstrikes as a counterterrorism strategy, stressing that decisive ground operations, backed by sound organisation and intelligence, remain critical. He noted that Nigeria possesses sufficient manpower to confront security threats if properly coordinated and resourced.
As an alternative, Gumi suggested that Nigeria could explore military assistance from countries such as China, Turkey and Pakistan, which he claimed could offer support without the broader geopolitical complications associated with American intervention.
