Controversial Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has urged the Nigerian government to halt all US military intervention in the fight against terrorism, warning that such operations could attract anti-American forces and turn the country into a battlefield.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Gumi reacted to the recent US airstrikes in Sokoto State, advising that Nigeria instead seek assistance from “neutral” countries such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan.
While acknowledging that combating terrorism is a legitimate Islamic duty, Gumi stressed that such operations must be conducted by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign powers he described as having a history of killing innocent civilians.
“Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) wished he annihilated them,” he said, citing Hadith from Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
The cleric warned that allowing US forces to operate on Nigerian soil could worsen security challenges.
“Terrorists don’t fight terrorists; they often kill innocent people and pursue hidden agendas under the guise of counter-terrorism,” Gumi said.
He added that the US justification for its military actions, claiming to protect Christians, could polarize the country along religious lines.
“The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing protection of Christians, risks infringing on our sovereignty and dividing our nation,” he said.
Gumi also criticized the choice of Sokoto as a target, noting that over 90 percent of the population there are Muslims and that the area posed no immediate terrorist threat.”
“He questioned the timing of the strikes, which occurred on Christmas Eve, and suggested that terrorism is often “manufactured and sustained by those claiming to fight it.”
Calling for an immediate cessation of military cooperation with Washington, Gumi emphasized that dropping bombs alone cannot solve Nigeria’s terrorism problem.
“What is needed is serious ground operations, and Nigeria has sufficient personnel to handle that,” he said.
He concluded with a warning for vigilance: “A word is enough for the wise. Nigerians must not be deceived by symbolic foreign military actions.”
