Amid an unprecedented wave of attacks, looting and abductions across Northern Nigeria, a prominent Islamic cleric is calling for amnesty for bandits, saying they were driven to violence by government neglect describing these bandits as “our brothers”.
While the Nigeria government opposed negotiating with terrorists, Gumi mediatory approach was geared towards reaching a mutually accepted ransome payments to these bandits.
It will be recalled that Gumi empathy with bandits and terrorists has emboldened these criminals to strengthen their criminal networks that have destroyed lives, devastate communities, displaced families and even claimed innocent lives.
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Sheikh Gumi recently described bandits as “victims” rather than criminals. Perhaps this observation was what moved the Minister of Defence , General Christopher Musa to issued a warning to Gumi and other supporters of bandits and terrorists brotherhood in the country to desists from their activities saying “a friend of a thief is a thief”.
This warning came because of the stand and narratives promoted by Sheikh Gumi and their sympathisers who describes bandits hiding in the bush as “our brothers” arguing that the society cannot do without them.
According to General Musa, Gumi labelling “bandits” as brothers does not reduce violence rather it legitimizes their activities and undermine national security.
As a result of the ignoble role of Gumi by supporting and advocating for bandits and terrorists, many Nigeria has called for his arrest amid fresh waves of kidnapping across Northern Nigeria that has forced schools closure and renewed security crackdowns by the Federal Government. Though Gumi has consistently denied supporting bandits and criminals saying he is only involved in peace efforts. Gumi rejected the allegations that his engagement with armed groups amounted to an endorsement saying that his role was strictly humanitarian and conflict resolution based.
However, the Minister of Defence, General Musa does not want to hear all that Gumi was saying and has to issue this warning, so that Gumi will know that government and the military will no longer tolerate his advocacy and tantrums noting that “terrorism and banditry should never be framed as expressions of regional, ethnic, or religious brotherhood” stressing that “Nigerians must desist from justifying criminality in any form” urging Gumi to stand with the law and the nation, or be counted among those enabling criminality”.
