"Stop the Americans Now” - Sheikh Gumi Blasts Nigerian Government Over U.S. Airstrikes

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has issued a blistering warning to the Nigerian government, demanding an immediate halt to all military cooperation with the United States following reported U.S. airstrikes on Nigerian soil.

In an uncompromising statement, Gumi warned that American military involvement is dangerous, reckless, and a direct threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, insisting it will only deepen insecurity rather than end it.

Gumi made his position clear in a strongly worded statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday. While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, he argued that not everyone is qualified to lead such a fight.

According to the cleric, the United States is morally disqualified from claiming leadership in counterterrorism efforts due to what he described as its long and bloody global military record.

He insisted that the fight against terrorism must be carried out by what he called “clean hands,” bluntly stating that the United States does not meet that standard.

Sheikh Gumi accused Nigeria of making a grave strategic error by allowing foreign powers to interfere in its internal security affairs.

In his view, foreign-led counterterrorism campaigns are nothing but a dangerous illusion, arguing that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists.” Instead, he said, such operations routinely lead to civilian deaths, destruction of communities, and hidden political agendas masked as security assistance.

“This is the mistake Nigeria has made,” Gumi declared. “Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they only kill innocent people while pursuing ulterior motives under the drama of fighting ‘terror.’

Gumi issued a stark warning that allowing U.S. military strikes on Nigerian territory risks turning the country into a full-scale theatre of war.

He cautioned that American involvement would inevitably draw anti-U.S. militant forces into Nigeria, exposing the nation to wider international conflicts and escalating violence far beyond current levels.

“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to become a theater of war,” he warned. “And no nation should allow its neighbors to be turned into enemies.”

The cleric also warned that U.S. military actions justified under the banner of protecting Christians are deeply dangerous in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria.

He argued that such framing risks weaponizing religion, inflaming sectarian tensions, and polarizing Nigerians along religious lines a development he warned could push the country closer to internal collapse.

According to Gumi, security operations that appear to favor one religious group over another threaten national unity and could fuel cycles of retaliation and mistrust.

Sheikh Gumi rejected airstrikes as an effective solution to terrorism, calling them lazy, distant, and ineffective.

He stressed that terrorism cannot be defeated from the sky and that real security requires serious, disciplined ground operations. He insisted Nigeria already has enough soldiers and personnel to confront its security challenges if properly organized and committed.

While forcefully rejecting U.S. involvement, Gumi acknowledged that Nigeria could seek external assistance if absolutely necessary but not from Washington.

He pointed instead to China, Turkey, and Pakistan as countries he believes could provide military support without the same geopolitical risks and ideological baggage associated with U.S. intervention.

“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” he stated.

Gumi’s explosive comments come amid rising national tension following reports of U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria. While some officials defend international partnerships as necessary to combat extremist violence, critics argue such cooperation undermines sovereignty, risks civilian lives, and drags Nigeria into global power struggles.

The debate now exposes a deeper national question: Should Nigeria fight its battles alone, or risk becoming another battleground for foreign wars?