Popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has criticized the US airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in north-western Nigeria, describing them as potentially polarizing and harmful to the nation’s sovereignty.
Gumi’s comments came less than 24 hours after US President Donald Trump announced on his official Truth Social account that the US Department of War carried out “numerous deadly strikes” in north-western Nigeria.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, earlier confirmed that the country is engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to tackle terrorism and violent extremism. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also acknowledged ongoing intelligence coordination with Nigerian authorities to carry out precision strikes in Sokoto State.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Gumi argued that while annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation, Nigeria should avoid unilateral reliance on the US and instead seek assistance from “neutral countries” such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan. He added that ground operations by Nigerian forces would be more effective than airstrikes alone.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theatre of war. If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” he said.
Gumi also warned that US involvement could provoke anti-American sentiments, polarize communities, and infringe on Nigeria’s sovereignty. He criticized the strikes in Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim region with no immediate terrorist threat, calling it symbolic of a “neo-Crusade war against Islam” and highlighting that the real threat remains in areas like Maiduguri.
He further urged residents of affected communities to document any casualties and incidents, arguing that limited airstrikes cannot resolve the broader terror menace without comprehensive ground operations.
