Sheikh Gumi Warns: US Airstrikes Threaten Nigeria’s Sovereignty, Security

Sheikh Gumi Warns: US Airstrikes Threaten Nigeria’s Sovereignty, Security

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend all military cooperation with the United States, following reports of US airstrikes on ISIS-linked terrorists in Nigeria’s Northwest.

The strikes, carried out on Christmas Day, were confirmed by US President Donald Trump, who said they targeted militants responsible for attacks on Christian communities in the region. “The United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria… The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the airstrikes as part of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the US.

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Reacting to the development, Gumi criticized the United States’ intervention as an example of “imperial tendencies” and questioned its moral authority to engage in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations. He argued that, according to Islamic principles, fighting terrorism must be conducted by “clean and holy hands,” not foreign powers with a history of global military involvement.

Gumi warned that allowing US military involvement could polarize Nigeria along religious lines, infringe on national sovereignty, and turn the country into a theatre of war, potentially attracting anti-US forces. He called for Nigeria to seek military assistance from more “neutral” countries such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan.

The cleric also dismissed the effectiveness of airstrikes, emphasizing that lasting results against terrorism require well-organized ground operations. “Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; we have enough personnel to handle it if properly mobilized,” he said.

He further encouraged communities affected by the strikes to document and share evidence of any civilian casualties for transparency and accountability.

Gumi described the US airstrikes on Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim area, as symbolic and potentially part of an anti-Islam agenda, especially given the timing on Christmas Eve.

Sheikh Gumi Warns: US Airstrikes Threaten Nigeria’s Sovereignty, Security