Islamic scholar, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military collaboration with the United States, following reports of United States airstrikes against ISIS elements in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Gumi sharply criticized American involvement in military operations on Nigerian soil, warning that it poses a threat to the nation’s sovereignty and internal unity.
While recognizing the Islamic duty to combat terrorism, Gumi emphasized that such efforts must be carried out by what he called “clean and holy hands,” not by foreign powers he accused of having “hands stained with the blood of innocent civilians.”
“Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation,” he said, citing a prophetic tradition. “But it should only be carried out by clean, holy hands, not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and men.”
Gumi argued that Nigeria erred by permitting foreign military involvement, suggesting that “terrorists do not fight terrorists in truth,” and that foreign interventions often result in civilian casualties while pursuing hidden agendas.
He further cautioned against allowing Nigeria to become a battleground or turning neighboring countries into enemies, asserting that U.S. involvement would attract anti-American forces to the country.
“The U.S. involvement in Nigeria will attract real anti-U.S. forces, making our land a theatre of war,” he said. “Coming under the pretext of ‘protecting Christians’ will polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty.”
Gumi proposed that if external military support is necessary, Nigeria should seek help from what he described as neutral nations such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan, which could assist without geopolitical complications.
He also questioned the reported bombing in Sokoto State, describing it as politically motivated and symbolic, pointing out that the region is predominantly Muslim and not a known terrorism hub, unlike Maiduguri.
“The attack on Sokoto, where over 90 per cent are Muslims, on Christmas Eve, with claims of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot,” he said. “We believe the terror is manufactured and sustained by the same people claiming to fight it.”
Gumi stressed that airstrikes alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s security problems and called for sustained ground operations.
“Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror. It requires serious military operations on the ground, and if we are serious, we have enough men to do that,” he stated.
He encouraged communities impacted by the strikes to document casualties and share evidence, warning that the issue could become politically significant ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Describing the airstrikes as indicative of a “neo-Crusade against Islam,” Gumi concluded by urging vigilance among Nigerians, saying, “A word is enough for the wise.”
