Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military collaboration with the United States following reports of recent US airstrikes in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Friday, Gumi cautioned that American involvement in Nigeria’s security operations could aggravate existing challenges and weaken the country’s sovereignty.
While acknowledging that Islam permits action against terrorism, the cleric argued that such efforts should only be undertaken by actors with what he described as “clean hands.” He maintained that the United States lacks the moral standing to lead counterterrorism operations, citing its history of military interventions around the world.
Gumi said Nigeria erred by allowing foreign powers to participate in its fight against insurgency, insisting that terrorists rarely confront fellow terrorists directly. Instead, he claimed such interventions often lead to civilian deaths and are driven by concealed political interests.
He further warned that turning Nigeria into a battleground for foreign military actions could draw anti-American forces into the country, worsening instability. According to him, US involvement—especially when framed as protecting Christians—risks deepening religious divisions within Nigeria.
The cleric also stressed that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, noting that effective counterterrorism depends largely on strong and coordinated ground operations. He argued that Nigeria has sufficient manpower to handle such operations if properly organised and equipped.
“This is where Nigeria has gone wrong. Terrorists do not genuinely fight terrorists; they often end up killing innocent people while pursuing hidden agendas under the guise of counterterrorism,” he said.
He added that no country should allow its territory to become a theatre of war or permit its neighbours to be turned into enemies. Gumi suggested that if Nigeria requires external military support, countries such as China, Turkey, or Pakistan would be more suitable partners.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates over the implications of reported US military actions within Nigeria and their impact on national security and unity.
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