Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud Gumi has alleged that some powerful foreign governments are secretly backing the terrorist networks tormenting the country.
The controversial cleric made the claim during a recent interview with BBC Hausa monitored by POLITICS NIGERIA, thus raising new questions about the forces driving the ongoing violence.
Gumi said the patterns of recent attacks show clear signs that external actors are giving support to armed groups.
He stressed that the scale, coordination, and sudden resurgence of violence across different regions do not reflect the work of isolated local criminals.
According to him, there are footprints that point to deeper international involvement.
The cleric noted that several months ago, there were visible signs that security was improving. He mentioned the Abuja–Kaduna highway, which had previously become a symbol of fear for travellers.
In his explanation, the route had largely stabilised, and many commuters had regained confidence before the renewed wave of bandit activities.
He also pointed to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, where farmers who once fled their villages because of attacks had cautiously returned to their farmlands.
Gumi said the gradual restoration of farming activities in the area was a strong indicator that peace was beginning to take root.
However, the sudden spike in attacks has now disrupted that progress, raising concerns about what may have changed behind the scenes.
Gumi argued that such a sharp reversal cannot be dismissed as random. He insisted that there are forces from outside Nigeria influencing the crisis and that the government must treat the matter as a national emergency.
He urged authorities to expand intelligence operations, strengthen diplomatic checks, and investigate every foreign link that may be fuelling the violence.
The cleric added that ignoring these warning signs would only worsen the situation, as the groups operating in the country may be receiving resources far beyond what local actors can provide.
He called on the security services to pay more attention to international networks and economic interests that stand to gain from instability in Nigeria.
Gumi maintained that until the deeper connections behind the conflict are uncovered, the country will continue to struggle with cycles of progress and sudden setbacks.