Sheikh Ahmad Gumi Urges FG To Suspend US Military Cooperation Over Airstrikes
Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military collaboration with the United States following reports of US airstrikes in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, Gumi warned that American involvement could exacerbate the country’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty. He stressed that while Islam permits fighting terrorism, such operations should be carried out by parties with “clean hands,” arguing that the US lacks the moral authority due to its global military record.
Gumi criticised Nigeria for allowing foreign powers to participate in its counterterrorism efforts, saying such interventions often lead to civilian casualties and serve hidden political agendas. “Terrorists do not truly fight terrorists; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’,” he said.
The cleric further cautioned that permitting Nigeria to become a battleground could draw anti-US forces into the country, worsening instability. He also warned that framing US actions as protecting Christians could heighten religious tensions.
Gumi emphasised that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism and called for robust, well-coordinated ground operations, which he said Nigeria has sufficient personnel to conduct. He suggested that if Nigeria seeks foreign military assistance, countries like China, Turkey, and Pakistan would be more suitable partners.
