Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has suggested that he and other religious leaders can no longer engage in negotiations with armed bandits following the Nigerian government’s decision to designate them as terrorists.
Gumi, who had previously visited bandits in their hideouts and advocated dialogue as a means of resolving insecurity, made the remarks in a video that has since gone viral.
According to the cleric, the terrorist designation could worsen the security situation by shutting down avenues for peaceful engagement.
“We don’t want to push them into terror beyond what they are doing now because it can get worse,” Gumi said.
He argued that many of the bandits had shown a willingness to embrace negotiations and questioned the urgency behind the government’s decision to classify them as terrorists.
“They have shown us their willingness to negotiate, so people that are ready to negotiate, why are you rushing to declare them bandits so that you can use whatever weapons you bought,” he stated.
The Islamic scholar further claimed that in the past, some bandits had assisted security authorities by apprehending Boko Haram members and handing them over to officials in Zamfara State.
“Before they used to catch Boko Haram and present them to the authorities in Zamfara, but now they are all terrorists,” he said.
Gumi lamented that the terrorist designation has effectively shut the door on mediation efforts by clerics.
“Secondly, the only door that is remaining is for us clergy to go in and negotiate with them, that is closed permanently,” he added.
His comments have reignited debate over the government’s counter-insurgency strategy and the role of dialogue in addressing banditry and other forms of violent crime in the country.
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