Gumi Slams US Airstrikes, Says $2m Bombs Should Build Schools for Herders

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has criticised the United States government over recent airstrikes in Nigeria, arguing that funds spent on military bombs would be better used to build schools and provide basic amenities for herders.

Gumi made the remarks while reacting to a viral video showing a Fulani man who reportedly discovered the barrel of a missile in an open field. According to the cleric, the man appeared unaware of the danger posed by unexploded ordnance, which Gumi attributed to widespread ignorance and lack of education among herders.

In a post shared on his Facebook page, Gumi wrote that many herders “need deliverance from ignorance and from themselves, not bombardment.” He added that the man in the video did not understand “the basic creed of Islam” nor the “serious danger of unexploded bombs.”

Gumi further questioned the rationale behind the airstrikes, stating that the cost of a single missile—estimated by him at about $2 million—could instead be used to build schools and provide social amenities for nomadic communities. He cited his personal efforts in establishing schools for herders as an example of what he believes is a more effective approach.

The comments followed reports that the US military, acting on the directive of President Donald Trump, carried out airstrikes on Christmas Day in parts of Sokoto State. The operation was said to be targeted at ISIS-linked elements and the Lakurawa terrorist group, though there were claims that the strikes missed their intended targets.

Confirming the development, the Nigerian government described the operation as a coordinated mission and stated that President Bola Tinubu approved the action.

Gumi’s remarks have since sparked renewed debate over the use of military force versus social interventions in addressing insecurity linked to armed groups and banditry in northern Nigeria.