Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned against the involvement of the United States (US) in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, saying such a move could worsen the country’s security crisis rather than solve it.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Gumi, in a Facebook post on Monday, said Nigeria must be careful not to compromise its sovereignty in the name of seeking foreign assistance to tackle banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity.
According to him, Nigeria’s sovereignty remains “a red line,” adding that the country’s military has the capacity to deal with the security challenges if its operations are guided by fairness, transparency and proper rules of engagement.
The cleric argued that foreign military involvement, especially from the United States, could turn Nigeria into a fresh battleground for international terror networks.
He warned that such intervention could attract foreign extremist groups into the country and expose Nigerians to a wider scale of violence.
Gumi wrote, “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.
“The involvement of the USA will only attract international terror groups to the ‘new arena,’ exposing Nigeria to an unnecessary increase in violence.”
The cleric also dismissed claims that the Nigerian military had been stopped from confronting bandits and Boko Haram insurgents because of amnesty initiatives.
He described the allegation as false and malicious, insisting that such claims were being used to mislead the public on the nature of the country’s security problems.
Gumi has, over the years, advocated dialogue and non-kinetic approaches in dealing with armed groups, a position that has repeatedly drawn criticism from Nigerians who believe the government should adopt a tougher military response.
He further argued that the heavy reliance on military force had failed to end terrorism and banditry in the country.
According to him, Boko Haram has remained active nearly 17 years after the extra-judicial killing of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.
Gumi linked the continued violence to what he described as excesses by security forces, including alleged attacks on innocent civilians during military operations.
He maintained that the fight against terrorism should be handled in a way that avoids injustice, prejudice and financial deception, warning that military action alone would not bring lasting peace if the root causes of insecurity were ignored.