Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend all military cooperation with the United States following US airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria. He warned that continued American involvement could worsen insecurity and undermine Nigeria’s national sovereignty.
Gumi made his position known in a statement shared on his Facebook page. He argued that while Islam allows the fight against terrorism, such operations must be carried out by what he described as clean hands, insisting that the US lacks the moral authority to lead counterterrorism efforts because of its global military record.
According to him, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a direct role in its security operations. He said foreign military interventions often come with hidden political interests and can lead to civilian casualties.
Gumi also cautioned that turning Nigeria into a theatre of war could attract anti US forces into the country. He warned that this may further destabilise the nation and deepen existing security challenges.
The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism. He said effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, adding that Nigeria has enough manpower to secure the country if its security agencies are properly coordinated and supported.
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