Sheikh Gumi urges Nigeria to end US military cooperation
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has spoken out against US airstrikes on terrorist camps in north-western Nigeria. He argued that such foreign interventions threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and could further divide the nation. Gumi called for the Federal Government to seek military partnerships with neutral countries instead of the United States. He also questioned the effectiveness of airstrikes in combating terrorism.
What we know
- Sheikh Ahmad Gumi criticised recent US airstrikes in north-western Nigeria, calling them polarising and harmful to national sovereignty.
- He urged the Federal Government to stop military cooperation with the US and instead partner with countries like China, Turkey, and Pakistan.
- Gumi argued that eliminating terrorists is an Islamic duty but should be carried out by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign forces.
- He described the airstrikes on Sokoto as symbolic of a neo-Crusade war against Islam and questioned their focus on areas with minimal terror threat.
- Gumi stated that ground operations by Nigerian forces would be more effective than foreign airstrikes in tackling terrorism.
