By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, has cautioned the Federal Government against foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, warning that the participation of the United States or other external powers could escalate insecurity and attract international terrorist networks into the country.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, May 18, Gumi described Nigeria’s sovereignty as “a red line,” stressing that the nation’s security challenges should not be handed over to foreign interests.
The cleric dismissed claims suggesting that the Nigerian military had been prevented from confronting bandits or Boko Haram insurgents, describing such allegations as “false and malicious.”
“As a peace advocate, I am stunned by some remarks from ignorance that the military was or is prevented from engaging bandits or Boko Haram. This claim is false and malicious,” he stated.
Gumi maintained that the Nigerian military had never suspended operations against terrorists in the name of amnesty, except during the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme introduced by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“Never for one second has the military halted hostilities in the name of Amnesty against unrepentant terrorists except the Niger Delta militants who got a blanket Amnesty from Yar’Adua of blessed memory,” he said.
The cleric further lamented that nearly 17 years after the 2009 extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram founder, Muhammad Yusuf, the insurgent group continues to threaten national security and attack high-ranking military officers.
“Today, almost 17 years since 2009 when Muhammad Yusuf was summarily executed extra-judicially, Boko Haram has remained a thorn in the throat of Nigerians killing high-ranking officers,” he said.
Gumi blamed the prolonged insurgency partly on what he described as shortcomings in the implementation of military operations, arguing that abuses against innocent civilians had weakened public trust and undermined counterterrorism efforts.
“The gross failure of the kinetic approach is chiefly attributed to the morality of our fighting force. Until innocent people are safe from our excesses in the application of the kinetic approach and our hands are not stained with the blood of innocent people, the war is going to erode our sovereignty which it has already,” he stated.
According to him, the Nigerian military possesses the capacity to tackle insecurity effectively if operations are carried out without prejudice, deception, or misuse of resources.
“The military can handle the situation if the rules of engagement are free from prejudices and deception, both in the application of force and finances,” he added.
Gumi strongly opposed possible involvement of the United States in Nigeria’s anti-terror operations, warning that such intervention could transform the country into a new battleground for global extremist organisations.
“The involvement of the USA will only attract the international terror groups to the ‘new arena’ exposing Nigeria to an unnecessary increase in violence, in which these same foreign forces are complicit,” he warned.
The cleric also referenced allegations involving former American diplomat, Russell Hanks, questioning his silence over accusations linked to the 1995 bombing of a bookshop at Durbar Hotel in Kaduna.
He further cited remarks allegedly made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, who claimed in February 2025 that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) inadvertently funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram, ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
“U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, alleged in February 2025 that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had inadvertently provided funding to terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda,” Gumi stated.
The cleric also criticised Nigerians who support foreign intervention, accusing some citizens of being too willing to surrender the country’s sovereignty to external interests.
“Nigerians especially a section of them are not just gullible but have a slave mentality ever ready to hand over the sovereignty of our dear nation to foreign interests. We have to resist foreign subjugation and disgrace,” he said.
He concluded by calling for national unity and increased support for Nigeria’s armed forces in the fight against terrorism.
The statement comes days after the Defence Headquarters in Abuja confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a senior ISIS commander, during a joint counterterrorism operation reportedly involving Nigerian and United States forces.
In a statement issued by Major General Samaila Uba, the military said al-Minuki was linked to the mass abduction of more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, including Leah Sharibu, who remains in captivity.
Earlier reports also stated that U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American and Nigerian forces jointly carried out the operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he reportedly described as ISIS’ second-in-command globally.
Written by Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong
Int’l Journalist, Reporting in French & English Languages, Senior News Editor @ 9newsng.com, Author of Many Books, Researcher, World Politics Analyst, French Language Lecturer
E-mail: [email protected]
