Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has issued a strong condemnation of the United States military following a series of airstrikes described by US President Donald Trump as "deadly and powerful" in parts of northern Nigeria.
Gumi's Stern Warning on Foreign Intervention
In a detailed public statement released on Friday, December 26, 2025, Sheikh Gumi argued that allowing foreign powers to conduct military operations on Nigerian soil was a grave error. He insisted that no nation should allow itself to become a "theatre of war" for external forces.
While acknowledging that Islamic doctrine permits the elimination of terrorists, Gumi stressed that such actions must not be carried out by forces he accused of having "ulterior motives" and a history of causing civilian casualties. "Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation," he stated, "But it should only be carried out by clean, holy hands, not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women, and men."
Risks of Polarisation and Escalating Violence
The cleric expressed deep concern that the US justification for the strikes—to "protect Christians"—could dangerously inflame religious tensions across Nigeria. "The USA's involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to 'protect Christians', will ultimately polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty," Gumi warned.
He further cautioned that the presence of American forces would inevitably attract hostile anti-US groups into the country, potentially escalating violence rather than containing it. "The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war," he said.
Gumi also questioned the timing and location of the strikes, particularly an attack on Sokoto. He noted that the operation occurred during the Christmas period in a state with a population that is over 90% Muslim and, in his view, faced "no imminent danger of terror," unlike areas such as Maiduguri.
Call to Halt US Cooperation and Seek Neutral Allies
Sheikh Gumi urgently called on the Nigerian Federal Government to suspend all military cooperation with the United States, which he accused of imperial tendencies worldwide. He warned that this issue could become a dominant topic in political debates leading up to the 2027 general elections.
As an alternative, the scholar suggested that Nigeria should seek security assistance from countries he perceives as more neutral. "If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey and Pakistan can do the job effectively," Gumi proposed.
He emphasised that aerial bombardments alone are insufficient to defeat terrorism, underscoring the need for robust ground operations led by Nigerian forces. "Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground, which, if we are serious, we have enough men to do," he asserted.
Gumi also urged communities affected by the airstrikes to meticulously document and share evidence of any civilian casualties resulting from the operations.
The cleric's criticism comes amid reported divisions within the United States Congress over President Trump's claim of unilateral authority to order such strikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria, following the action in the country's north-west.
