26th December, 2025
Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has demanded an immediate end to Nigeria’s military cooperation with the United States following airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day in northwestern Nigeria.
In a statement released on his Facebook page Friday, Gumi expressed strong concerns that foreign military intervention threatens Nigeria’s sovereignty and could escalate religious tensions across the country.
The cleric’s statement comes after US President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out multiple strikes targeting Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State. Trump characterized the operation as protecting Christians from terrorist attacks.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the collaborative effort, stating that the precision strikes resulted from intelligence sharing and strategic coordination conducted within international law and respect for Nigerian sovereignty. The ministry emphasized that all counterterrorism operations prioritize civilian protection and national unity.
However, Gumi disputed the rationale behind the strikes, particularly questioning why Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim state with no immediate terrorist threat, was targeted on Christmas Eve under the banner of protecting Christians.
“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger neo-Crusade war against Islam,” Gumi stated. “Attack on Sokoto, where 90 percent 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 Islamic scholar acknowledged that fighting terrorism is an Islamic obligation but insisted such operations must be conducted by what he termed “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign powers with histories of civilian casualties.
Gumi warned that American military presence in Nigeria would attract anti-US forces into the country, transforming Nigerian territory into a battleground. “The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war,” he cautioned.
The cleric urged the Federal Government to seek military assistance from countries he described as more neutral, specifically naming China, Turkey, and Pakistan as viable alternatives.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” Gumi said, adding that the issue would likely become a major talking point in the 2027 electoral campaigns.
He further argued that aerial bombardments alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s terrorism challenge, emphasizing the need for robust ground operations. “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 stated.
Gumi called on communities affected by the airstrikes to document and share evidence of any civilian casualties resulting from the military operations.
The cleric also suggested that terrorism in Nigeria is being perpetuated by the same actors claiming to fight it, describing current counterterrorism efforts as politically motivated rather than genuinely aimed at protecting citizens.