By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has denied that he was arrested by the SSS. Rather, he said his interactions with terrorists harrasing Nigerians, have been with the backing of the government.
There have been calls by some Nigerians for the SSS to arrest Gumi to provide more information on the terrorists and their locations in the forest.
Other Nigerians say that any non-northern Muslim who engages in half of what Gumi has done with bandits won’t be sleeping in their homes but SSS detention.
But Gumi, speaking with Channels TV, said he has the government backing.
“All along, I have been doing it with the government and there is no difference between us and the authority. So people should have their peace,” Gumi said while denying report of his arrest.
He also said he visits the bandits in company of police protection and with the full knowledge of SSS.
Gumi also denied that he was invited by the SSS after he alleged that security agents assist bandits in acquiring weapons.
“Nobody invited me for questioning or any arrest, I can say that categorically,” he told Channels TV.
He added: “Since I ventured into the forest, I went there with full security, the police, with the knowledge of the DSS, traditional rulers, the Fulani leaders, I never went alone.”