*US Airstrikes in Nigeria Spark Controversy and Calls for Halt in Military Cooperation*
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, has urged the Nigerian government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following US airstrikes on Christmas Day. The strikes, announced by President Donald Trump, targeted ISIS operatives in Sokoto State, accused of attacking Christian communities. ¹ ² ³
Gumi argues that foreign intervention risks turning Nigeria into a proxy battlefield, polarizing society along religious lines, and causing civilian casualties. He questions the US’s “moral authority” to intervene and suggests seeking military support from countries like China, Turkey, or Pakistan instead.
The Nigerian government has not yet responded publicly to Gumi’s demands, but the incident highlights ongoing tensions between foreign assistance and self-reliance in addressing Nigeria’s persistent insurgency challenges.
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Ochochi reporter