Gumi is known for visiting bandits in the forest in an attempt to negotiate peace deal with them.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Gumi, has told his followers to be wary of presidential candidates who want to crush bandits once elected into office.
Gumi, during a sermon, described bandits as “our fighters” but in what appears like an afterthought, quickly added: “our people.”
According to Gumi, bandits shouldn’t be killed but be negotiated with.
He said: “Don’t vote for those who will fight bandits. The fighters are our warriors in the forest……. Our people in the forest.
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“So vote for those who after attaining power will call and negotiate with our people (bandits) so as to give them what they want for peace to reign.”
Gumi is known for visiting bandits in the forest in an attempt to negotiate peace deal with them.
The controversial Islamic cleric had met with some suspected terrorists in the forests of Zamfara and Kaduna states, including notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
He has asked the Nigerian government several times to grant amnesty to bandits as it gave to Niger Delta militants.
According to the cleric, military action against criminal herdsmen and bandits will not solve the security challenge, but “will only worsen the situation”.
He also said no military, especially in a poor economy can win guerrilla warfare, citing the recent victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan as an example.
The controversial Islamic scholar added that the government should spend billions of naira on building schools for terrorists and bandits instead of spending on security hardware.