Shehu Sani, Omoyele Sowore and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi have reacted to the United States airstrike on terrorist targets in Sokoto State, expressing sharply different views on the operation and its implications for Nigeria’s security and sovereignty.
The US strike, which was publicly acknowledged by American authorities, has sparked renewed debate over counterterrorism strategy, foreign military involvement and Nigeria’s capacity to secure its territory.
Reacting on his verified X handle on Friday, former Senator Sani said the airstrike could be justified if it was carried out in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
The former senator said terrorist groups in the North West had become deeply entrenched and posed a serious threat to Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.
Sani rejected claims that terrorism in the region targets only one faith, describing such narratives as false and misleading.
“If actually, the military strikes against the terrorist targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the Nigerian authorities, as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action,” he wrote.
He described terrorists as “cancerous cells” that must be confronted decisively, but stressed that Nigeria must ultimately take responsibility for its own security.
“The ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power,” he said.
In contrast, former presidential candidate and activist Sowore condemned the airstrike, describing it as a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and a sign of leadership failure.
He said reports showed that the strike was carried out on Nigerian soil on Christmas Day, following announcements by US President Donald Trump and the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.
Although the Nigerian government later said it was aware of the operation and described it as a joint effort with international partners, Sowore dismissed the explanation.
He alleged that the strike was carried out without genuine authority or informed consent.
“Judging by the nature of the confirmed strike on a village in Sokoto, it is clear that the US President under whose authority this operation occurred neither understands nor genuinely cares about Nigeria or Nigerians,” Sowore said.
He added that Nigeria’s inability to protect its territory had left the country as a passive observer while foreign powers carried out military operations within its borders.
“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people and its territory,” he said.
Islamic cleric Gumi also criticised the United States over what President Trump described as “deadly and powerful” airstrikes in parts of northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Friday, Gumi warned that foreign military involvement could deepen insecurity, polarise the country and erode sovereignty.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the elimination of terrorists, Gumi said such actions should not be carried out by forces he accused of having “ulterior motives” and a history of civilian casualties.
“Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation,” he said.
He added, “But it should only be carried out by clean, holy hands, not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women, and men.”
Gumi argued that Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to conduct military operations on its soil, insisting that no country should turn itself into “a theatre of war”.
He warned that US involvement would attract hostile anti-American groups and worsen violence.
“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theatre of war,” he said.
The cleric also expressed concern that justifying the strike as a move to “protect Christians” could inflame religious tensions.
“The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty,” he said.
Questioning the timing and location of the strike, Gumi said, “Attack on Sokoto, where over 90 per cent are Muslim with no imminent danger of terror, while the real threat is in Maiduguri, says a lot.”
He urged the federal government to suspend military cooperation with the United States, accusing Washington of imperial tendencies and warning that the issue could shape political debates ahead of the 2027 elections.
