…Gumi said eliminating terrorists is an Islamic duty,
SOKOTO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has faulted the recent United States airstrikes on terrorist camps in north-western Nigeria, warning that the action could be divisive and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
His comments followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces carried out what he described as “numerous deadly strikes” against Islamic State elements in the region, as well as the Federal Government’s confirmation of security and intelligence cooperation with Washington.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the collaboration, which led to the precision strikes, involved intelligence sharing and strategic coordination in line with international law, while stressing that civilian protection, national unity and respect for sovereignty remain central to counter-terrorism efforts.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Friday, Gumi said eliminating terrorists is an Islamic duty, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s stance against violent groups. However, he argued that such actions should be carried out by “clean and holy hands,” not foreign powers he accused of a history of civilian casualties.
The cleric called on the Federal Government to suspend military cooperation with the United States and instead seek support from what he described as neutral countries, including China, Turkey and Pakistan. He maintained that aerial bombardment alone cannot defeat terrorism and insisted Nigeria has sufficient manpower for ground operations.
Gumi also warned that US involvement, framed as protecting Christians, could inflame tensions, polarise the country and turn Nigeria into a theatre of war, adding that the issue could feature prominently in the 2027 political discourse.
He further described the strikes in Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim state, as symbolic of what he termed a neo-Crusade against Islam, questioning the focus on the area while suggesting that more immediate security threats exist elsewhere in the country.
