By Ayomide Otitoju
Islamic cleric Sheikh Abubakar Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military cooperation with the United States following recent American airstrikes on ISIS-linked terrorists in Nigeria’s North-West on Christmas Day.
In a post on his Facebook page on Friday, Gumi warned that foreign military intervention, particularly by the United States, could worsen insecurity rather than resolve it. He argued that US involvement would expose Nigeria to broader geopolitical conflicts and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
“Nigeria should halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide,” the cleric wrote, adding that the issue could feature prominently in political discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gumi urged the government to instead seek military support from what he described as more “neutral” countries, including China, Turkey and Pakistan. While acknowledging the legitimacy of combating terrorism, he maintained that such efforts should not be outsourced to foreign powers with perceived ulterior motives.
He warned that US involvement could attract anti-American forces and turn Nigeria into a theatre of war. According to him, reliance on foreign airstrikes alone is insufficient to address terrorism, stressing that Nigeria has enough manpower to confront security threats through ground operations.
The cleric also expressed concern that US intervention, particularly under the justification of protecting Christians, could deepen religious divisions in the country. He argued that framing the security challenge in religious terms risks polarising Nigeria’s multi-faith society.
Gumi further questioned the timing and location of the strikes, alleging they could inflame religious tensions. He called on communities in affected areas to document and share evidence of any civilian casualties resulting from the operation.
His remarks followed an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who said American forces had carried out what he described as a “powerful and deadly” strike against ISIS terrorists in North-West Nigeria. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that the operation targeted militants responsible for killing “innocent Christians” and was ordered by him in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief.
The Nigerian government has, however, defended the operation. In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the airstrikes were conducted as part of structured security cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners.
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said, noting that the collaboration led to precision strikes on terrorist targets in the North-West.
