Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has accused the United States of America of playing a hidden role in Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity. According to Gumi, the U.S. has been indirectly supporting Boko Haram and other insurgent groups as part of a strategy to pressure Nigeria into allowing an American military base on its soil.
Gumi made the allegations on Tuesday while speaking during a live radio programme, Frank Talk, aired on Rave 91.7 FM in Osogbo, Osun State. The outspoken cleric said Western powers—especially the United States—have continued to interfere in Nigeria’s internal security matters under the guise of providing assistance.
“The countries of the Sahel have all driven out the imperialists. We can do it too; we just need the mind to do it,” Gumi said. “The threat is still hanging on Nigeria, and it is going to affect our economy if we don’t know. The United States is part and parcel of our problem. They have been arming Boko Haram,” he alleged.
The Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, who is known for his controversial views on national security, claimed that foreign interference was responsible for the persistence of Boko Haram and banditry across the country. He argued that the U.S. and other Western powers had a vested interest in keeping Nigeria unstable so that they could later present themselves as the only ones capable of restoring order.
“Who has the power and financial capabilities to arm these insurgents?” Gumi asked rhetorically. “You’re looking at it from a local view rather than internationally. America is part of it. Why is this so? So that Nigeria can give them a military base. They were just driven away from Niger, but they still want a base in Africa. They want Nigeria.”
The cleric’s remarks have stirred debate among Nigerians, with many expressing surprise at the weight of his allegations. Gumi claimed that the United States and its allies were using insecurity as a tool to manipulate African nations, particularly those in the Sahel region.
He linked the growing violence in Nigeria to what he described as “a larger geopolitical game,” saying that after being expelled from Niger Republic, the U.S. was now eyeing Nigeria as a possible location for a new military base in West Africa.
“They want Nigerians to be frightened by Boko Haram so that later, we will call on them for help,” he said. “That’s the plan—to make us dependent.”
While the U.S. government has repeatedly stated that its involvement in the region is aimed at promoting peace, training local forces, and combating terrorism, Gumi maintained that such interventions often do more harm than good. He urged the Nigerian government to resist foreign pressure and instead focus on homegrown solutions that promote unity, education, and dialogue.
To support his claims, Sheikh Gumi referred to a statement allegedly made by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who had also hinted at foreign influence in Nigeria’s insecurity. Gumi said this was evidence that international forces might be backing some of the violent groups in the country.
“Even the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said so in his last interview,” Gumi noted. “For the herdsmen, it is easier because they are the ones coming and looking for peace. But for Boko Haram, they are sponsored internationally.”
The cleric, who has for years advocated dialogue with bandits and herdsmen in Northern Nigeria, said the government must identify and expose the external actors behind the country’s security challenges.
“They capitalise on illiteracy, poverty, and ignorance,” he warned. “The government must ensure that youths, especially in the North-East, are educated and enlightened so that they will not be deceived with fake religious ideologies.”
Sheikh Gumi used the radio platform to again advocate for peaceful and intelligence-driven solutions to Nigeria’s security problems rather than relying on military force or foreign assistance. He said that only by addressing the root causes of violence—such as poverty and lack of education—could lasting peace be achieved.
He praised recent efforts by the government and security agencies to reduce banditry in the North-West, noting that progress was being made and should not be undermined.
“The banditry in the North-West is coming down, so nobody should come and destroy it now that it is gradually reducing,” he said. “Peace has no price tag. You can spend anything to achieve peace.”
Gumi also defended his controversial past engagements with armed herdsmen in Northern states like Katsina, saying his goal had always been to promote understanding and reconciliation rather than violence.
“My meetings with them were for dialogue,” he explained. “Usually, the Fulani man is quiet. Whenever they attack, it’s often a revenge attack. Somebody did something to them, and they react.”
The cleric also took a swipe at former U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as “Islamophobic.” His comments followed Trump’s recent statement that he would help protect Christians in Nigeria if re-elected. Gumi condemned the remark, saying it was divisive and could inflame religious tensions in Nigeria.
“How can Nigerian Muslims be comfortable with President Trump since he has declared that he is coming to help Christians?” Gumi asked. “He is just being Islamophobic. It is artificial. People are trying to divide us just to steal our resources.”
He stressed that there was no deep-rooted conflict between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, only political manipulation and economic interests that fuel suspicion and hostility.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is one of Northern Nigeria’s most prominent Islamic scholars. Over the years, he has been known for his efforts to mediate between the government and armed groups, particularly bandits operating in the North-West. In 2021, he made headlines after holding peace meetings with bandit leaders in forests across Zamfara and Katsina States.
While some Nigerians praised his approach as a bold step toward reconciliation, others accused him of sympathising with criminals. The federal government has never formally adopted his peace proposal but has continued to engage in military operations against bandits and terrorists.
Gumi, however, insists that dialogue remains the most effective path to peace. He argues that most of the Fulani herdsmen involved in violent activities are Nigerians who have been pushed into crime by poverty, ignorance, and revenge motives.
His recent accusation against the United States adds another controversial chapter to his outspoken career. Security analysts have urged caution, saying such claims should be backed with evidence before being accepted.
As Nigeria continues to battle terrorism and banditry, Gumi’s allegations have reopened conversations about the role of foreign powers in Africa’s security landscape. While his comments may not represent the official position of the government, they reflect growing public mistrust toward Western involvement in local affairs.
For many Nigerians, the cleric’s words raise difficult questions: Who truly benefits from Nigeria’s insecurity? Are there indeed international interests at play, or are such claims distractions from homegrown problems?
Regardless of the answers, Gumi insists that peace must come from within.
“We must build peace ourselves,” he concluded. “No one will do it for us.”
