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Sheikh Gumi Criticize Government for Using Force to Combat Bandits and Terrorist

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 3rd, 2024.

Sheikh Gumi Criticize Government for Using Force to Combat Bandits and Terrorist

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, has once again criticized the government’s reliance on force to combat bandits and terrorists. The Kaduna-based scholar reminded officials of his past warnings against using aggressive tactics, which he claims were ignored.

Gumi’s comments follow an incident on Sunday where notorious bandit leader Bello Turji celebrated the capture of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army. The bandits’ celebration, including a video of them burning the MRAPs, has raised significant alarm online.

In a Facebook post titled “Radicalisation of Bandits: I Warned Against the Danger,” Gumi lamented that the bandits, initially involved in what he termed an “ethnic war,” might have been deterred by different strategies. He expressed regret that his cautions about escalating military actions leading to a more ideologically driven conflict were disregarded.

Gumi also differentiated between Boko Haram and bandits, stating that while both groups engage in similar criminal activities, Boko Haram is driven by a radical ideology, making their conflict more intractable. He warned that the current situation is dire and the ideological motivations of the bandits are making the crisis worse.