Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud Gumi, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as the hidden involvement of powerful foreign nations in Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis.
Gumi made the allegation in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna, where he claimed that recent patterns of violent attacks across the country point to external support for armed groups operating in Nigeria.
According to him, the current wave of insecurity contradicts earlier signs of improvement recorded in some key flashpoints, suggesting that fresh foreign backing may be responsible for the renewed surge in attacks.
He cited the Abuja Kaduna highway, once regarded as one of the most dangerous routes in the country, noting that the road had become relatively safe in recent months before the latest spike in violence.
The cleric also said farmers in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State, who had abandoned their farmlands for years due to persistent threats from bandits, had gradually resumed farming activities, indicating that the security environment had shown signs of stability before the recent deterioration.
Gumi insisted that the sudden reversal in progress raises serious questions that must not be ignored, adding that the new wave of attacks appeared too organised to be purely local.
He urged the Federal Government to intensify intelligence operations, strengthen diplomatic engagements and thoroughly scrutinise all external links that may be fuelling terrorism and banditry in the country.
The cleric further warned that Nigeria might not achieve lasting peace if the international dimensions of the security crisis were not properly addressed alongside domestic efforts.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government had yet to officially react to the allegation.
Nigeria has battled insurgency, terrorism and banditry for over a decade, particularly in the North East and North West, leading to thousands of deaths and massive displacement of rural communities.
