Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned against involving the United States in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, saying such a move could expose the country to foreign terror groups and escalate violence.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Gumi described Nigeria’s sovereignty as “a red line,” insisting that the Nigerian military has the capacity to tackle insecurity if operations are conducted without what he termed “prejudices and deception.”
The cleric argued that the armed forces can effectively confront banditry and insurgency if rules of engagement are properly applied, both in the use of force and the management of security finances.
According to him, allegations that amnesty programmes prevented the military from confronting bandits and Boko Haram insurgents are “false and malicious.”
Boko Haram Still Active After 17 Years
Gumi noted that Boko Haram has continued to operate nearly 17 years after the extra-judicial killing of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.
He linked the shortcomings of the kinetic approach against terrorism to alleged excesses by security operatives and the killing of innocent civilians during operations.
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The cleric further cautioned that involving the United States in Nigeria’s security operations could internationalise the conflict and attract global terror networks into the country.
“The involvement of the USA will only attract international terror groups to the ‘new arena,’ exposing Nigeria to an unnecessary increase in violence,” Gumi stated.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.