Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately end all military cooperation with the United States following recent U.S. airstrikes targeting terrorist elements in northwest Nigeria, arguing that foreign military involvement threatens Nigeria’s sovereignty and could worsen insecurity.
Gumi warned that allowing foreign forces to conduct or participate in military strikes on Nigerian soil risks turning the country into a “theatre of war” and could polarise religious sentiments and inflame divisions within the country. He criticised the framing of the airstrikes under narratives about “protecting Christians,” saying such language risks weakening national unity and inviting external political agendas into Nigeria’s security space.
The cleric argued that airstrikes alone are insufficient to defeat terrorism, and that Nigeria has the capacity to fight militant groups if it properly organises and equips its security forces for ground operations. He also suggested that if external assistance is necessary, Nigeria should seek support from what he described as neutral partners such as China, Turkey and Pakistan rather than the United States.
Gumi’s stance has fuelled debate over how Nigeria engages international partners on counter-terrorism and the implications of such cooperation for national sovereignty and internal cohesion as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.
