Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said Nigeria should have sought military assistance from countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and China rather than relying on the United States, following reported airstrikes on terrorist targets in the country.
Gumi made the call while reacting to the reported involvement of the US in counterterrorism operations in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to immediately suspend all forms of military cooperation with Washington.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the cleric said the elimination of terrorists is religiously justified in Islam but argued that such actions should only be carried out by actors he considers morally credible.
He maintained that Nigeria erred by allowing the US to participate in its security operations, claiming that violent actors often pursue hidden agendas that result in civilian casualties.
He further argued that no country should permit its territory to become a theatre of war or allow neighbouring states to be turned into enemies, stressing that foreign military involvement could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to him, Nigeria should seek external military support from countries he described as neutral, including China, Turkey and Pakistan, if assistance is deemed necessary.
Gumi warned that US involvement could attract anti-American forces into Nigeria, escalate insecurity and deepen religious divisions, particularly if military actions are framed as protecting one religious group over another.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.
“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theater of war. The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarize our nation and infringe on our sovereignty,” he said.
He also said aerial bombardments alone cannot resolve the country’s security challenges, insisting that terrorism can only be effectively tackled through sustained ground operations.
He added that Nigeria has sufficient manpower to confront the threat if it is genuinely committed to doing so.
The cleric called on communities affected by military operations to document and share evidence of any casualties, while questioning the focus of the reported airstrikes on areas such as Sokoto, which he claimed faces no immediate terrorist threat, compared to regions like Maiduguri.
Gumi further alleged that terrorism in the country is being created and sustained by the same actors who claim to be fighting it, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and discerning.
tribune