Gumi also suggested that the govt should dialogue with the bandits who abducted the students in Kaduna rather than pay ransom
By Kehinde Okeowo
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said bandits in the country are getting more vicious because of the ‘kinetic approach’ employed by the Nigerian government.
His statement followed the recent kidnappings of some students in Kaduna State and the demand of N40 trillion as ransom by the bandits.
Speaking while featuring on a programme on Arise Television on Thursday, Gumi said the bandits only pitched the ludicrous amount of N1 billion naira ransom as a bargaining tool.
He, however, suggested that the government should have a dialogue with them rather than pay any ransom for victims’ freedom.
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The cleric went on to say that there is need for a change of approach by the Nigerian government to issues of banditry and terrorism.
Gumi said: “I believe no ransom should be paid but engage these people, give them hope and not only in this children’s case. I’m so sad that the leaders are just realizing that it is turning into a war. It has been a war and not mere criminality. If we can see Israel and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners, I don’t see why we cannot negotiate.
“I support that the government should not pay any ransom but what I say is that the government must dialogue and from my knowledge about their psychology, that amount they are pitching is because they want to have a bigger bargaining power, otherwise, I don’t think in their wildest dreams, they would think the government would give them that money.
“What is happening now is that we are seeing that these bandits are getting more and more vicious. Before now, they didn’t do what they do now. We can only attribute that to the kinetic approach which is over emphasized. When we hear the politicians talk, nothing is done about it to overcome these people. For example, now we are fighting bandits.”
