Islamic scholar Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately suspend all military cooperation with the United States following reports of U.S. airstrikes targeting ISIS-linked militants in Nigeria.
Gumi made the call while reacting to a statement attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump, in which Trump claimed that the United States had carried out airstrikes against ISIS elements operating in northwest Nigeria. According to Trump’s statement, the strikes were aimed at militants accused of attacking Christian communities.
In his response, Gumi criticized the reported operation, warning that foreign military intervention could worsen insecurity in the country. He argued that Nigeria should not allow external powers to conduct military actions on its soil without full transparency and national consensus, stressing that such actions could inflame tensions and undermine local efforts to address insurgency.
The cleric also questioned the narrative surrounding the airstrikes, urging Nigerians to be cautious about accepting foreign claims without verification. He maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges should be addressed primarily through domestic strategies, dialogue, and reforms, rather than increased reliance on foreign military involvement.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has not issued an official response to Gumi’s call. Nigerian security authorities have also not independently confirmed the reported U.S. airstrikes.
