Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi has criticised Nigerians who have expressed support for recent United States airstrikes targeting extremist groups in Sokoto State, describing such reactions as misguided and harmful to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The airstrikes, reportedly carried out with the approval of the Nigerian government, were said to have targeted camps linked to Islamic State-affiliated militants. Officials stated that the operations were based on intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States and were aimed at degrading insurgent networks.
Reacting in a video message, Gumi faulted the Federal Government for permitting foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s security operations and called on authorities to demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.
He argued that accepting foreign military assistance, particularly from the United States, poses long-term risks to national security. Gumi also criticised citizens who welcomed the strikes, saying such support reflected a lack of understanding of the broader implications.
In his remarks, the cleric accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of responsibility for civilian casualties in past conflicts and questioned the credibility of American involvement in counter-terrorism efforts.
Gumi further expanded on his position in a statement titled “The Symbolism of the US Strike,” shared on his Facebook page. He warned that allowing U.S. military operations on Nigerian soil could turn the country into a battleground and attract retaliation from anti-U.S. militant groups.
He maintained that foreign interventions often come with hidden agendas and cautioned against deepening religious and geopolitical tensions. According to him, U.S. involvement under the pretext of protecting religious groups could further polarise the country.
The cleric suggested that if Nigeria required external military support, it should explore partnerships with countries such as China, Turkey, or Pakistan instead, insisting that such cooperation would be less destabilising.
