Sheikh Gumi condemns US Christmas Day airstrikes in Nigeria, calls for alternative allies

Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has criticised the United States over its airstrikes on suspected terrorist camps in Nigeria’s North-West.
Gumi cautioned that the attacks could deepen divisions in the country and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He made the remarks following an announcement by former US President, Donald Trump, that American forces had carried out what he described as “numerous deadly strikes” in north-western Nigeria.

According to Trump, the airstrikes targeted Islamic State terrorists allegedly attacking Christians. This came alongside confirmation by the Federal Government of Nigeria that it is engaged in ongoing security and intelligence cooperation with the United States.
In a statement, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the collaboration, which resulted in the precision airstrikes, was based on intelligence sharing and strategic coordination conducted in accordance with international law and Nigeria’s sovereignty. The ministry added that all counter-terrorism operations prioritise the protection of civilians and the preservation of national unity.
Reacting in a Facebook post on Friday, Gumi stated that eliminating terrorists is an Islamic duty, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s desire to eradicate such groups. However, he insisted that such actions should be carried out by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign forces, which he accused of having a history of killing innocent civilians.
The cleric urged the Federal Government to end military cooperation with the United States and instead seek support from what he described as “neutral countries” such as China, Turkey and Pakistan.
He further argued that aerial bombardment alone cannot effectively address terrorism, stressing that Nigeria has enough manpower to conduct ground operations.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theatre of war. And no nation should allow its neighbours to be their enemies,” Gumi wrote. “If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey and Pakistan can do the job effectively.
“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war. The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty.
“Nigeria should halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide and seek the help of those neutral countries mentioned. Nigerians are too educated to be played with. This is going to be a 2027 campaign discourse.
“Meanwhile, dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground, which, if we are serious, we have enough men to do that. We call on all villages affected to upload videos and pictures of any casualties involved.”
Gumi also described the airstrikes carried out in Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim state, as symbolic of what he termed a neo-Crusade against Islam. He questioned why such attacks occurred in an area he said posed no immediate terrorist threat.
“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger neo-Crusade war against Islam. Attack on Sokoto, where 90 per cent are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri and on a Christmas Eve, with the claim of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot. We believe the terror is manufactured and sustained by the same people claiming to fight it,” he said.