By Erewunmi Peace

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has claimed that United States intelligence agencies are fully aware of developments in Nigeria’s security situation but sometimes prefer to operate under what he described as a “Nigerian cover” to pursue their interests.

Gumi made the remark while reacting to public debates surrounding recent security developments in Nigeria, including reports linking international attention to attacks in parts of the country.

According to him, U.S. intelligence agencies possess extensive global surveillance capabilities and are unlikely to rely solely on local narratives to make decisions.

“U.S. intelligence is not stupid.

They know everything, but they wanted a Nigerian cover,” Gumi said in a social media post responding to ongoing discussions about foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security affairs.

The cleric’s comment followed reactions to reports and statements suggesting that international actors, including the United States, may have relied on local narratives in shaping their responses to security incidents in Nigeria.

Gumi, who is known for his outspoken views on national security and international relations, has previously criticised both local and foreign approaches to tackling insecurity in the country.

However, analysts note that Gumi’s statement represents his personal opinion and not an official position from the United States government or its intelligence agencies. There has been no formal confirmation from U.S. authorities supporting claims that they sought Nigerian cover for intelligence or military actions.

The comment has since sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians agreeing with his assessment of global intelligence operations, while others questioned the basis of his claim.