In a revealing interview on Nigeria Info FM, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi stated that security forces are aware of the hideouts used by bandits in northern Nigeria.
Known for his controversial views, Gumi disclosed that these agents had accompanied him on missions to negotiate with the bandits, suggesting they have intricate knowledge of their operations and locations.
During the discussion, Gumi emphasized the necessity of negotiating with the perpetrators behind the recent abduction of approximately 287 students from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
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He proposed that negotiations could lead to the safe return of the captives without necessarily involving financial transactions, hinting at potential prisoner swaps.
Gumi portrayed the bandits as marginalized citizens deprived of basic social services, such as education, infrastructure, and water. He suggested their criminal activities stem from these unaddressed grievances and advocated for a government amnesty program akin to what was implemented in the Niger Delta region. This, he believes, could quell the rising tide of insecurity in the North.
He stated, “I don’t think they (security agents) are truthful with you. When I go, I go with them; I don’t go alone.”
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Speaking on the identities of the bandits, Ahmad Gumi said they are mainly herdsmen, who are largely Nigerians with a few foreigners among them.
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