Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi warns that foreign bombing will worsen Nigeria's security and advocates negotiation as the sustainable alternative. Speaking on Arise TV, he criticised reported U.S. intervention plans, recalling Washington's destabilising roles in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. Gumi argued military strikes risk broad civilian harm and deepen local grievances.

He described America as untrustworthy, citing claims about weapons of mass destruction and subsequent chaos that followed. Gumi said Nigerians might trust offers from nations perceived as less intrusive, such as China or Russia, but he stressed that external force seldom resolves complex insurgencies rooted in social and economic fractures.

Drawing on his own experience engaging armed groups in northern forests, Gumi defended dialogue and rehabilitation initiatives. He argued that treating violence like a disease requires diagnosis: listening to grievances, understanding fighters' motivations, and crafting tailored incentives for disarmament, reintegration and community healing rather than relying solely on kinetic responses.

He highlighted Kaduna as a case where patient engagement and cooperation with state authorities reduced mass killings. According to Gumi, negotiated processes can stabilize volatile areas by containing violence and creating pathways to citizenship for former combatants. He acknowledged the process is slow but asserted its long-term effectiveness and sustainability.

Gumi warned that air campaigns risk civilian casualties and community backlash, which insurgents exploit for recruitment and legitimacy. He contrasted prolonged foreign counterinsurgency failures with the potential gains from localized, culturally informed strategies. For him, negotiation reduces bloodshed, preserves communities and addresses underlying causes fuelling violence while building durable peace.

Ultimately, Gumi called for patient, humane policies combining dialogue, socioeconomic investment and judicious security measures. He urged skepticism toward simplistic military fixes and encouraged inclusive processes that recognize fighters as citizens to be rehabilitated. His message: lasting stability in Nigeria will come through engagement, not indiscriminate bombing or external intervention.

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