Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has warned that foreign interference in Nigeria’s security matters could escalate tensions instead of resolving conflicts. Speaking on News Central TV, Gumi criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements on Nigeria, saying they misrepresent the true nature of the country’s challenges.
Quoting his own words, he said, “He’s coming to fight Muslims, not terrorists, and that’s what we are trying to avoid.” Gumi argued that Trump’s approach risks targeting the wrong groups and could inflame religious divisions in an already sensitive nation.
The cleric explained that the violence in the Middle Belt, including Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna, stems primarily from land disputes and clashes between communities, not religious persecution. Both Muslims and Christians have suffered casualties, he said, and framing the conflict as a Christian genocide is misleading and harmful.
Gumi also alleged that foreign powers have historically fueled conflicts abroad, arming militant groups to serve political interests. He warned that similar interference in Nigeria could destabilize ongoing peace efforts and worsen insecurity rather than solve it.
Advocating for local solutions, Gumi emphasized dialogue, mediation, and the rehabilitation of repentant fighters as the most effective ways to restore peace. He highlighted the progress made in areas like Southern Kaduna and Plateau, where community-led initiatives have reduced violence.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain united and cautious of external narratives, stressing that careful, homegrown peacebuilding is the only sustainable path to security. Gumi insisted that avoiding foreign meddling is crucial to preventing further polarization and maintaining stability in the Middle Belt and beyond.
Leave a Reply