KADUNA, NIGERIA – Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately cease all military cooperation with the United States, including reported U.S. airstrikes against terrorist targets within Nigeria.
In a strongly-worded statement posted to his Facebook page on Friday, Gumi warned that American military involvement risks exacerbating the nation’s security crisis and undermining its sovereignty.
Gumi stated that while Islam permits fighting terrorism, such actions must be undertaken by what he termed “clean hands.” He argued the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts due to its global military interventions.
“The mistake Nigeria made is allowing foreign powers to play a role in our counterterrorism,” Gumi wrote. “Terrorists do not truly fight terrorists… they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives.”
The cleric cautioned that transforming Nigeria into a “theatre of war” for foreign powers could attract anti-U.S. forces into the country, leading to greater destabilization. He further warned that U.S. involvement, especially under the guise of protecting Christians, could dangerously polarize the nation along religious lines.
Gumi emphasized that airstrikes alone are an ineffective strategy against terrorism, asserting that successful counterterrorism requires robust ground operations. He insisted Nigeria possesses sufficient personnel for this task if properly mobilized and organized.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war,” Gumi stated. Proposing alternative partners, he added, “If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.”
The cleric’s remarks come amid unconfirmed reports of U.S. military strikes in Nigeria and reflect growing debates over the role of foreign military aid in combating insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
The presidency has not yet issued an official response to Gumi’s statement.