October 06, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
Renowned Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has disclosed that Government officials and police officers accompany him during negotiations with bandits in northern Nigeria.
When asked in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH why he has taken the matter of speaking to terrorists seriously, Gumi said, “I am in the eye of the storm, and I am a full-fledged Nigerian. I also have an interest in peace and tranquility. I cannot wait for the official narrative because I have been in the army and I know how things go”
Gumi’s revelation comes as the region grapples with rising cases of killings and kidnappings despite significant government expenditure on security.
“Today, 90 per cent of our intelligence is garbage. What we have left is just about 10 per cent. That is why we have coups because intelligence does not have a way to identify these people.
“They also killed their leaders because no intelligence picked them up. Can we wait until we get a government that understands, then, we can make plans to intervene and see if it can calm nerves to achieve peace. No, as individuals, we have to do our best. Then I can advise the government on what we have seen.
“One thing Nigerians should understand is that I have never been to any den of these people without officials of the government. I go with the police because one cannot go alone; you must go with them.
“Only that they will tell you there is a perimeter—don’t come with some of them. Sometimes, I also go with traditional institutions and state government officials. My plan is only to broker peace with them. They open their doors for us to sit and discuss issues.” The cleric said.
Gumi’s statements highlight the complex dynamics of addressing banditry, sparking debates on the effectiveness of negotiating with bandits.
Gumi’s negotiations aim to address underlying grievances and find mutually beneficial solutions, but critics question whether such approaches undermine government authority.
Gumi criticised the government’s reliance on military solutions, likening it to administering the wrong medicine for an illness.
“No matter how many expensive drugs you give to patients, if they are not the right drugs, they will not get cured,” he explained, stressing that the banditry problem is rooted in social issues.
“When a society is neglected until it becomes harmful, like the military, the next line of action is dialogue,” Gumi said.
Gumi also warned that using the military in guerrilla warfare is counterproductive.
“Using the military to fight a guerrilla war is like punishing the military,” he said.
He elaborated on his negotiation strategy, noting that approaching bandits as a preacher opens their hearts to discussions.
“When one approaches them as a negotiator or a preacher, they open their hearts,” Gumi added.
