Gumi has for years advocated a non-kinetic approach towards handling bandits in Nigeria.
He is of the view that the government should rather negotiate with them than use military action.
Following the US precision attacks on terrorists in Sokoto State, Gumi has now kicked, urging the Nigerian Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States.
He claimed that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty.
In a post on his Facebook shortly after the US military action in Nigeria was confirmed, he said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record.
According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in civilian casualties and hidden political motives.
Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country, further destabilising it.
He also cautioned that US involvement, particularly under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise the country along religious lines.
The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations, which he said Nigeria has enough personnel to carry out if properly organised.
Gumi added that: “This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.”
Meanwhile, activist Omoyele Sowore has claimed that Nigeria’s sovereignty was violated by the US.
According to him, the military action was carried out without the knowledge of the Nigerian Government.
His stand is contrary to the earlier statement by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the country was aware of the strikes.
Sowore wrote, “Although the Nigerian government now claims it was aware and describes the operation as a joint effort with vague “international partners,” it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“My position remains unchanged. Judging by the nature of the confirmed strike on a village in Sokoto, it is clear that the U.S. President under whose authority this operation occurred neither understands nor genuinely cares about Nigeria or Nigerians.
“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria (Africa’s most populous nation) lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people and its territory.
“As a result, the country has been reduced to a bystander while its sovereignty is violated under the direction of U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
“I reiterate: only true, tested, and informed leadership can protect Nigerians—not imperiled, jaundiced neoconservatives operating from Washington, D.C”.
