JUST IN: Sokoto Bombing Is a Declaration of War Against Islam, Muslims in Northern Nigeria — Sheikh Gumi

Prominent Islamic cleric and public commentator, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has strongly condemned the recent United States military airstrike on terrorist targets in Sokoto State, describing the operation as a “declaration of war against Islam and Muslims in northern Nigeria.”

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that it carried out airstrikes on December 25, targeting what it described as terrorist enclaves in parts of northwestern Nigeria. The strike, which reportedly followed intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with Nigerian authorities, was presented by Washington as part of efforts to degrade terrorist networks and prevent further violence against civilians.

However, Sheikh Gumi, in a statement released shortly after the bombing, rejected the justification for the operation and questioned both its timing and location. According to him, the attack was not merely a counterterrorism measure but a symbolic act with deep religious and political undertones.

“The attacks are symbolic of a harbinger of a neo-Crusade war against Islam,” Gumi stated. He argued that the decision to bomb Sokoto — a state he noted is over 90 percent Muslim — raised serious questions about intent. “Attack on Sokoto, where 90 percent are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri, and on a Christmas Eve, with the claim of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot,” he said.

Sheikh Gumi’s comments appear to reference long-running narratives in parts of northern Nigeria that foreign military actions, particularly by Western powers, are driven by religious or ideological motives rather than purely security considerations. His use of the phrase “neo-Crusade” echoes sentiments held by some Islamist scholars who view Western military interventions in Muslim-majority regions through the lens of historical religious conflicts.

A consistent critic of military solutions to Nigeria’s insecurity, Gumi has over the years advocated dialogue and negotiated settlements with armed groups, including bandits and insurgents. He has argued that excessive reliance on force often worsens conflicts, fuels radicalization, and leads to civilian casualties.

In his latest statement, the cleric warned that U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s internal security could have far-reaching consequences. “The U.S. involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-U.S. forces, making our land the theater of war,” he cautioned. According to him, foreign intervention risks turning Nigeria into a battleground for global power struggles, exposing civilians to greater danger.

Gumi also expressed concern that the framing of the U.S. intervention as an effort to “protect Christians” could further polarize Nigeria along religious lines. “The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty,” he said. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a near-even split between Muslims and Christians, and religious tensions have often been exploited by violent actors to fuel conflict.

In one of his most controversial remarks, Sheikh Gumi went as far as labeling the United States a “terrorist nation,” accusing it of hypocrisy. He argued that terrorists should be confronted only by what he described as “holy hands,” not by a foreign power whose history, in his view, is stained by violence against civilians. “Terrorists should be killed only by holy hands, not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women, and men just recently,” he said, referencing past U.S. military campaigns in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Beyond criticism of Washington, the cleric also directed sharp words at Nigeria’s political leadership. He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States. According to Gumi, such cooperation exposes Nigeria to external manipulation and undermines its independence.

“We call on the government to halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide, and seek the help of those neutral countries mentioned,” he said. As alternatives, Gumi suggested countries such as China, Turkey, and Pakistan, which he described as more neutral and capable of providing effective military assistance without ideological baggage.

The cleric emphasized the principle of sovereignty, stating that no nation should allow its territory to become a theater of war. “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,” he said, urging Nigerian leaders to prioritize diplomacy, regional cooperation, and internal capacity-building over foreign intervention.

Gumi also questioned the effectiveness of airstrikes as a counterterrorism strategy. According to him, “Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground.” He argued that Nigeria already has sufficient manpower within its armed forces to address security challenges if properly mobilized, equipped, and led.

In a notable call to action, the cleric urged residents of communities affected by the airstrikes to document and share evidence of casualties. “We call on all villages affected to upload videos and pictures of any casualties involved,” he said, a statement likely to spark debate over accountability, transparency, and the risks of misinformation in conflict zones.

Sheikh Gumi also linked the controversy to Nigeria’s political future, suggesting that foreign military involvement would become a major issue ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Nigerians are too educated to be played with,” he stated. “This is going to be a 2027 campaign discourse.”

His comments come amid a flurry of reactions from political leaders, civil society groups, and security analysts. While some have welcomed the U.S. airstrikes as a sign of renewed international support in the fight against terrorism, others have raised concerns about civilian casualties, constitutional processes, and the long-term implications of foreign troops or forces operating on Nigerian soil.

As the debate continues, Sheikh Gumi’s intervention underscores the deep sensitivities surrounding security, religion, and sovereignty in Nigeria. Whether his warnings will influence government policy remains to be seen, but his remarks have once again placed the spotlight on the complex and contentious nature of Nigeria’s battle against terrorism — a fight that extends beyond the battlefield into the realms of politics, faith, and national identity.