Renowned Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military collaboration with the United States following reports of U.S.-linked airstrikes targeting ISIS elements in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Gumi criticised the presence of foreign forces in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, warning that such involvement poses serious risks to national sovereignty and internal unity.
While affirming that combating terrorism aligns with Islamic teachings, the cleric argued that the fight must be conducted by morally upright actors, not foreign powers he accused of long-standing records of civilian casualties across the world.
According to him, eliminating terrorists is a religious duty, but one that should be carried out by what he described as “pure hands,” not by external forces whose histories, he claimed, are marked by the deaths of innocent women, children, and civilians.
Gumi warned that Nigeria erred by opening its territory to foreign military action, insisting that terrorism cannot be defeated by what he termed “another form of terrorism.” He argued that such interventions often lead to civilian harm while serving hidden geopolitical interests.
He further cautioned that U.S. military involvement could turn Nigeria into a battleground, attracting extremist groups hostile to American interests and worsening insecurity in the country. According to him, framing the intervention as protection for Christians risks deepening religious divisions and undermining national cohesion.
Instead, Gumi suggested that if Nigeria truly requires external military support, it should seek assistance from countries he described as geopolitically neutral, such as China, Turkey, or Pakistan, which he said could offer support without ideological or religious undertones.
Questioning the reported strike in Sokoto State, Gumi described the operation as symbolic and politically charged. He expressed concern that an area he said is largely Muslim and not widely known as a terrorism hotspot was targeted, while regions like Maiduguri, long affected by insurgency, were not the focus.
He also dismissed air bombardment as an ineffective solution to terrorism, stressing that real progress can only be achieved through sustained and coordinated ground operations.
According to him, Nigeria has sufficient manpower to confront insecurity if the political will exists.
Gumi urged residents of affected communities to document any civilian harm resulting from the strikes and warned that the situation could become a major political issue as the 2027 general elections approach.
Concluding his statement, he described the development as part of what he termed a broader ideological confrontation against Islam, advising Nigerians to remain alert and discerning in the face of unfolding events.