GUMI: Govt must guarantee bandits’ safety or else…

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has stated again bandits across the north west acquired weapons in orde to secure themselves, and will not turn themselves in except they feel safe.

“Nobody can justify criminality,” he clarified during a virtual meeting hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

“What we are saying is what we saw in the forest is an ethnic war going on between people in the forest and the neighbouring villages and hamlets.”

He said when the herder felt he has grievances and nobody was listening to him, he took on weapons.

“So when we went there and they saw a listening ear, they were ready to negotiate, tell us their grievances, and ready to incorporate into the society.”

In such a case, he believes Nigeria should not have a dialogue with them.

“If you don’t show them they’re safe in the larger society, there’s no way they can leave their weapon. And that’s why we asked for amnesty for them just like we had in the Niger Delta,” he said.

He said the kidnappers are raising more money to buy more weapons so they can protect themselves.