Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi warned that United States involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations would draw more violence to the country. Gumi issued the statement on his Facebook page on December 26, 2025, following reported US airstrikes on terrorist camps in northwest Nigeria.
Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric and former Nigerian Army captain, called on the Federal Government to end all military cooperation with the United States immediately.
He argued that such involvement undermined Nigeria’s sovereignty. Gumi stated that the United States lacked the moral authority to lead counterterrorism efforts because of its global military record.
Gumi added that Nigeria made a mistake when it allowed foreign powers to participate in its internal security operations. He noted that terrorists do not fight terrorists and suggested that external forces might pursue ulterior motives.
Sheikh Gumi warned that US actions would attract real anti-US forces into Nigeria. “The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war,” he said. He further cautioned that framing the intervention as protection for Christians could polarize the nation along religious lines.
The cleric acknowledged that Islam obliges Muslims to fight terrorism. However, he insisted that such efforts must use “clean hands” free from the blood of innocent people. Gumi stressed that airstrikes alone could not defeat terrorism and required strong ground operations by local forces.
Sheikh Gumi urged Nigeria to seek military assistance from neutral countries instead. He named China, Turkey, and Pakistan as effective options. Gumi maintained that Nigeria possessed enough manpower for its own ground operations.
His comments came amid reports of US strikes targeting ISIS elements in Sokoto State on Christmas Day. Nigerian officials had confirmed security cooperation with the United States at the time. Gumi’s position reflected his long advocacy for dialogue with armed groups in the northwest.
