Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, has called on the Nigerian government to immediately stop all military cooperation with the United States, warning that continued US involvement in the country could turn Nigeria into a ‘theatre of war’.
Gumi made the call following the US airstrikes on ISIS terrorists on Christmas Day, arguing that foreign military intervention, particularly by the United States, would exacerbate insecurity rather than resolve it.
In a Facebook post on Friday titled: “The Symbolism of the US Strike!”, the cleric said Nigeria should instead seek military assistance from what he described as more “neutral” countries such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan to tackle its security challenges.
“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war,” Gumi wrote. “As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theatre of war, and no nation should allow its neighbours to be their enemies.”
While acknowledging that fighting terrorism is legitimate, Gumi insisted that such efforts must not be outsourced to foreign powers, whom he accused of having ulterior motives.
“Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation,” he said, citing a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “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.”
According to him, relying on the United States to combat terrorism in Nigeria is a “mistake,” as, in his view, “terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.”
Gumi further warned that US involvement, particularly under the pretext of protecting Christians, could deepen religious divisions and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty,” he stated. “Nigeria should halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide.”
He also suggested that the security debate would feature prominently in Nigeria’s future political discourse. “Nigerians are too educated to be played with. This is going to be a 2027 campaign discourse,” he added.
On the broader fight against terrorism, the cleric argued that airstrikes alone are insufficient. “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 that,” he said, calling on affected communities to document and share evidence of any civilian casualties.
Gumi also raised concerns about what he described as the symbolism of the reported strike, alleging it could fuel religious tensions.
“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger of a neo-Crusade war against Islam,” he claimed. “An attack on Sokoto, where over 90 per cent are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri, and on a Christmas Eve, with the claim of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot.”
The cleric alleged that terrorism in Nigeria was being manipulated by vested interests. “We believe the terror is manufactured and sustained by the same people claiming to fight it. A word is enough for the wise,” he said.
Recall it was earlier reported that President Donald Trump, on Thursday, announced that the United States had carried out a “powerful and deadly” military strike against ISIS terrorists in North-West Nigeria.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the operation, which targeted militants responsible for the killing of “innocent Christians”, was ordered by him in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in North-West Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump posted on Christmas Day.”
The Nigerian Government has reacted to the military operation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North-West,” spokesperson of the Ministry, Kimiebi lmomotimi Ebienfa, said in a statement on Friday.
