Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military cooperation with the United States following reports of US airstrikes in Nigeria.
Gumi warned that American involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts could aggravate the country’s security challenges and erode national sovereignty.
The cleric made his position known in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, where he cautioned against foreign military intervention, particularly by the United States.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, Gumi argued that such efforts must be carried out by what he described as “clean hands”, insisting that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead counterterrorism operations due to its global military history.
According to him, Nigeria erred by allowing foreign powers to participate in its counterterrorism campaign, warning that such interventions often come with hidden political motives and civilian casualties.
Gumi further cautioned that turning Nigeria into a theatre of war would inevitably attract anti-US forces into the country, worsening instability and insecurity.
He also warned that American involvement under the guise of protecting Christians could dangerously polarise Nigeria along religious lines.
The cleric stressed that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, arguing that sustainable success requires well-coordinated ground operations, which he said Nigeria has sufficient manpower to execute if properly organised.
“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.
“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,” part of his statement read.
