In a recent interview on News Central TV from 24:55, Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi warned U.S. President Donald Trump against misrepresenting Nigeria’s security situation or taking aggressive actions that could escalate tensions. Gumi stressed that Nigeria’s unique social and communal dynamics require careful handling.
Quoting his own words, he said, “This is not a place to play with fire; you can do that in Sudan, but in Nigeria, it’s different.” He emphasized that unlike other countries, Nigeria’s mixture of religious and ethnic communities makes it particularly sensitive to external interference. Mischaracterizing local conflicts, he argued, could provoke unnecessary violence and destabilize peace efforts.
Gumi explained that the ongoing violence in the Middle Belt, including Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna, is largely a result of land disputes and clashes between clans, not religious persecution. Both Muslims and Christians have suffered casualties, he noted, and portraying the situation as a targeted attack against Christians misrepresents the reality.
The cleric also criticized international actors who have historically fueled conflicts abroad by supplying arms to militant groups, citing examples in Iraq and Gaza. He warned that foreign involvement in Nigeria could exacerbate insecurity rather than resolve it.
Gumi highlighted the importance of local initiatives, including dialogue, reconciliation, and rehabilitation of repentant fighters, as effective solutions to ongoing violence. He pointed out that such efforts have already reduced tensions in Southern Kaduna and Plateau, showing the success of community-driven approaches.
He urged international actors to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and approach its internal conflicts with caution, stressing that external threats or interventions could undermine peace and provoke widespread instability. View, More,
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