Gumi Rubbishies Nigerians Backing U.S. Sokoto Airstrikes, Calls Them ‘Stupid,’ Says Trump’s Hands Are ‘Bloodstained’
Popular Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has sharply criticised Nigerians who welcomed recent United States airstrikes targeting extremist camps in Sokoto State, describing such supporters as “stupid” and accusing the U.S. of pursuing a dangerous agenda in Nigeria.
The airstrikes, reportedly carried out with the approval of the Nigerian government, were said to have targeted Islamic State-linked militant hideouts based on intelligence shared by Abuja. Security officials described the operation as a precision strike aimed at degrading insurgent networks operating in the region.
Reacting in a video message and a subsequent Facebook post, Gumi condemned the Federal Government for allowing foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s internal security challenges. He urged authorities to immediately demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
“The Nigerian government should call the attention of the ambassadors concerned to immediately withdraw the U.S. military intervention on Nigeria’s insurgency fight,” Gumi said.
He also criticised Nigerians who praised the strikes, arguing that their support reflected a lack of understanding of the broader national security implications.
“This is nothing but a betrayal of our Nigerians. Some people will be saying that since we cannot end the insecurity and we have United States government intervention, why don’t we gladly accept the help?” he said.
“There are stupid people whose thinking faculty is very small; they are the ones who will think so.”
The cleric further attacked former U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as unfit to intervene in Nigeria’s security affairs.
“This person must be stopped and chased out. This is a person that has his hands stained with the blood of children and adults,” Gumi stated.
“How can you call for assistance from a thief when they enter your house?” he added.
In a statement titled “The Symbolism of the U.S. Strike,” posted on his Facebook page last week, Gumi argued that Nigeria had made a strategic error by cooperating with the United States. He claimed that foreign military interventions often come with hidden motives.
“Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror,’” he wrote.
Gumi warned that no country should allow its territory to become a battleground for foreign powers or permit external alliances to turn neighbouring nations into enemies. According to him, the presence of foreign troops often escalates conflicts rather than resolving them.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” he said, warning that U.S. involvement could “attract the real anti-U.S. forces, making our land the theatre of war.”
He also cautioned that American intervention, especially if framed around the protection of Christians, could deepen religious divisions in Nigeria and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The comments have sparked renewed debate over foreign military cooperation in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and the long-term implications for national security and unity.
