Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, has dismissed insinuations, suggesting that he supports terrorism and banditry.
Addressing a press conference on Monday at his residence in Kaduna, Gumi, who has been advocating amnesty for bandits, said there had been several misrepresentations in the media and on social media platforms regarding his position on banditry in Nigeria.
“I have noticed that I am being misquoted in some of my media interviews, public lectures, and discourse on how to address banditry in Nigeria,” he said.
“This is being done by certain ethnic interest groups, individuals driven by prejudice, and some sectional internet content creators who use sensational and outrageous headlines to attract viewership at the expense of human suffering and sacrifice
“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo, suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry or terrorism in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me.”
The cleric called on Nigerians to disregard “such fake, manipulated, and doctored materials currently in circulation.”
“I am a loyal citizen of my beloved country, a nation whose potential I believe is unmatched anywhere in the world.
“I therefore urge the general public, the media, and the Nigerian state to disregard such fake, manipulated, and doctored materials currently in circulation,” Gumi said.
He warned that “anyone who continues, from the date of this release, to circulate falsehoods against me shall be liable to legal action.”
“I sincerely hope that our great nation will heal, and that all victims affected by this violence will find comfort in the collective determination of the nation and the international community to achieve a lasting solution to the insecurity fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice,” he added.
However, responding to questions, the Islamic cleric insisted that bandits, like “repentant” Boko Haram terrorists, should be granted amnesty.
He noted that when Mohammed Yusuf, founder of Boko Haram, was killed 17 years ago, Nigeria relied mainly on the kinetic approach to combat the insurgents.
Gumi said, “If the kinetic approach is not working for 17 years, why don’t you change the approach?…..
“Let’s change the method. Because what Katsina did is to bring the bandits, give them money, and let them go with the rebels. Why don’t we change the method? Let’s engage them.
“Let’s dislodge them from the forest. Let’s take their children and put them in school.
“Let’s do something different.
“But you see, when you want money to be spent, when you want a budget to be spent, that is when it will come.”
According to him, “Nobody wants to spend money on rehabilitation, training, as we have seen in Boko Haram.
“From the number of Boko Haram’s repentants, which are in thousands, you can see that the same approach can be applied to the bandits.
“And we expect results better than the kinetic approach, which has been going on for 17 years now without any progress…
“These people (Bandits) told us they are ready to lay down their arms, but what are their conditions? Has anybody listened to them?
“They said they fear when they lay down arms, they will then be pursued and arrested.
“So give them the amnesty so that they don’t need to fear putting down their arms and see. Let’s change the approach. Let’s change the methodology.”
Gumi denies supporting terrorism, insists on amnesty for bandits
