Shehu Sani slams Sheikh Gumi, other critics of anti-terror strikes

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s security challenges after openly criticising individuals he described as sympathisers of terrorists and opponents of recent military airstrikes by the United States against terror groups.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the former lawmaker and political activist argued that those who consistently oppose military action against terrorists and bandits should be taken to conflict-ravaged areas such as Sambisa Forest, Zamfara and Sokoto states to personally engage the insurgents they seek to defend.

Sani maintained that critics of military operations should be willing to test alternative approaches they often propose, including dialogue and preaching, rather than condemning the use of force from a distance.

According to him, opposing military strikes without offering a workable solution to end killings and kidnappings across the country amounts to hypocrisy.

“Those who are opposed to striking those terrorist groups should be assembled and transported to the hinterlands of Zamfara and Sokoto or even Sambisa so that they can preach, talk or negotiate with them so that they will stop murdering and kidnapping our people. When one is opposed to one thing, he should be able to do another,” Sani wrote.

Although he did not mention any individual by name, Sani’s comments are widely believed to be directed at cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has repeatedly criticised military offensives against terrorists and bandits.

Sheikh Gumi has consistently called on the Federal Government to adopt dialogue and negotiation rather than military force, arguing that airstrikes and armed operations have failed to provide lasting solutions to insecurity.

READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia deports Sheikh Gumi, cites concerns over political views

The outspoken cleric has, on several occasions, defended his long-standing position that negotiating with bandits is a pragmatic approach to saving lives and restoring peace in troubled regions. He has argued that sustained military action often worsens the humanitarian situation without addressing the root causes of violence.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Sheikh Gumi reiterated his stance, insisting that negotiation remains the most viable option for dealing with criminal groups. “Everybody negotiates with bandits,” he said during the interview.

“That word ‘we don’t negotiate’, I don’t know where they got it from. It’s not in the Bible. It’s not in the Quran. In fact, it’s not even in practice. Everybody’s negotiating with outlaws, non-state actors, everybody. So who got it, and where did they get that knowledge from? We negotiate for peace and our strategic interests. If negotiation will bring stoppage to bloodshed, we will do it,” he added.

Sani’s remarks have since sparked renewed conversations on social media, highlighting the deep divide among Nigerians over whether military force or dialogue offers the best path to ending terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the country.