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Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has vehemently criticized the United States military operation against ISIS cells in North West Nigeria. Writing on December 26, 2025, the cleric described the American intervention as a violation of sovereignty that could attract international anti-US forces and destabilize the country further.
The geopolitical temperature in Nigeria has risen sharply following a controversial statement from Sheikh Ahmad Gumi regarding foreign military operations on Nigerian soil. This outburst comes immediately after the American government executed a precision attack on terror cells within the country.
Crucially, this development follows official channels where President Trump confirms US strike on ISIS in Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in the international war against terror in the West African sub-region. Sheikh Gumi, however, argues that while fighting terrorism is a religious duty, it must be executed by “clean hands” rather than foreign powers he accuses of hypocrisy.
The symbolism of the strike
Taking to his official Facebook page, the Kaduna-based scholar did not mince words regarding the morality of the American intervention. The cleric stated that annihilating terrorists is indeed an Islamic obligation, citing prophetic traditions, but he insisted the United States lacks the moral standing to conduct such operations.
Gumi described the US as “another terrorist” whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent children and women globally. This rhetoric aligns with his history of provocative statements, such as when Sheikh Gumi calls kidnapping a lesser evil and urges talks, a stance that previously alienated many security experts and government officials.
According to his latest assessment, the involvement of American forces is a strategic error by the Nigerian government. The scholar warned that terrorists do not fight in truth and that inviting the US will only serve to polarize the nation further while infringing on its sovereignty.
Call for alternative alliances
Expanding on his critique, Gumi warned that allowing Nigeria to become a “theater of war” for global superpowers would have dire consequences. He argued that the presence of US troops would inevitably attract “real anti-US forces” to Nigerian soil, turning local insurgencies into a proxy battleground for international conflicts.
Instead of Western reliance, the cleric suggested that Nigeria should look East for military support if assistance is required. He specifically listed China, Turkey, and Pakistan as nations that could effectively handle the job without the “imperial tendencies” he attributes to Washington.
This intervention is already shaping up to be a major political talking point. Sheikh Gumi concluded his statement by predicting that the decision to involve the US military will become a central “2027 campaign discourse,” signaling that national security strategies will heavily influence the next general election.
