Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has condemned the recent US airstrikes on alleged ISIS camps in Northwest Nigeria, carried out on Christmas night, December 25.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Gumi argued that while fighting terrorism is an obligation, it should not be carried out with the support of the United States, which he described as a “terrorist” state with a history of violence against civilians. He claimed that counterterrorism efforts should be executed by what he termed “clean and holy hands,” not by a country whose actions, according to him, have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

Gumi suggested that Nigeria would be better served seeking military assistance from countries such as China, Turkey, or Pakistan, rather than the United States. He also maintained that airstrikes alone are insufficient to address terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires sustained ground operations. According to him, Nigeria has enough military personnel to prosecute such a war if it is truly committed.

The cleric further called on the Nigerian government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States, warning that US involvement could turn Nigeria into a theatre of war and attract anti-US forces. He argued that framing the intervention as an effort to protect Christians could deepen religious divisions and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Gumi also alleged that the timing and location of the strikes were symbolic, describing them as part of what he called a “neo-crusade” against Islam. He questioned why the attack occurred in a predominantly Muslim region like Sokoto, rather than in areas he described as facing more severe terror threats, such as Maiduguri.

He concluded by urging communities affected by the strikes to share videos and images of any casualties, insisting that Nigerians should remain vigilant and not be misled.

“A word is enough for the wise,” he said.