Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has called on the Federal Government to suspend all military cooperation with the United States following reports of U.S. airstrikes on militant targets in Nigeria.
Gumi warned that foreign military involvement could worsen Nigeria’s insecurity and undermine the country’s sovereignty. He made the call in a statement posted on his social media page on Friday.
According to the cleric, while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such efforts must be carried out by actors with what he described as moral credibility, which he said the United States lacks due to its past military interventions around the world.
He argued that involving foreign powers in Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign was a mistake, saying such interventions often lead to civilian casualties and hidden political interests. Gumi also cautioned that making Nigeria a battleground could attract external hostile forces and further destabilise the country.
The cleric added that U.S. involvement under the pretext of protecting Christians could deepen religious tensions in Nigeria. He maintained that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective ground operations are required.
Gumi said Nigeria has enough manpower to combat insurgency if properly organised, adding that countries such as China, Turkey and Pakistan could provide technical assistance if external support is required.
His comments follow reports that the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria, an operation reportedly announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
