Trump’s Airstrikes: Sheikh Gumi Urges FG to Halt US Military Cooperation, Warns of Worsening Insecurity
Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi has urged the Bola Tinubu led Federal Government to immediately suspend all forms of military collaboration with the United States following reports of alleged US airstrikes linked to Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
Gumi warned that American military involvement could aggravate the country’s already fragile security situation and erode Nigeria’s sovereignty, stressing that foreign intervention often produces consequences worse than the problems it claims to solve.
The cleric made his position known in a statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Friday, PulseNets learnt.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, Gumi argued that such actions must be undertaken by actors with what he described as “clean hands,” insisting that the United States lacks the moral standing to spearhead counterterrorism operations due to its history of military interventions across the world.
According to him, Nigeria erred by opening its security architecture to foreign powers, maintaining that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that external military involvement frequently leads to civilian casualties and concealed political interests.
Gumi further cautioned that turning Nigeria into a battleground for global power struggles could draw anti-American forces into the country, thereby deepening instability rather than resolving it.
He also warned that US engagement, particularly under narratives of protecting Christian communities, could dangerously inflame religious tensions and further polarise the nation along sectarian lines, PulseNets was told.
The Islamic scholar equally dismissed the effectiveness of airstrikes as a standalone solution to terrorism, noting that decisive counterterrorism requires coordinated ground operations. He maintained that Nigeria possesses sufficient manpower to confront security threats internally if its forces are properly organised and equipped.
Highlighting what he described as a fundamental policy error, Gumi stated: “This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.”
He added: “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.”
Also Read: Sheikh Gumi attacks Tinubu, Wike, reveals why Christians can’t be trusted with power
Offering alternatives, the cleric argued that if Nigeria must seek external military support, countries such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan would be more suitable partners, adding: “If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.”
