- Gumi Responds To Calls For His Arrest, Defends Engagement With Bandits
- He says his 2021 peace mission had full security approval.
- Gumi urges dialogue and warns against intolerance over insecurity debates.
Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed renewed calls for his arrest over his statements and interactions with armed bandit groups, describing those behind the demand as “spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people.”
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Gumi, who posted a statement on Facebook on Sunday, has long positioned himself as a mediator between government authorities and bandit groups in northern Nigeria. His role has repeatedly divided public opinion, with supporters viewing him as a peace advocate while critics accuse him of shielding criminals by promoting dialogue instead of military action.
The cleric insisted he has violated no law, arguing that many of those calling for his arrest are driven by bigotry and misinformation. He wrote, “ARREST HIM!!! These are the only words some spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people can utter.”
According to him, those criticising his involvement prefer emotional outrage to constructive debate, choosing to politicise his peace efforts rather than engage with the root causes of insecurity.
Gumi recalled his major mediation effort in January 2021 at the Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, noting that the visit was carried out with full approval from security agencies. He said he was accompanied by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police during the mission, where more than six hundred bandits and their commanders agreed to surrender their weapons.
“This meeting was part of a peace initiative where we preached to over 600 bandits and their commanders, who agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for security and basic amenities,” he said.
He added that the agreement collapsed because government authorities failed to deliver on the conditions presented by the armed groups, which included access to basic services, safety assurances and protection from arbitrary arrests.
The cleric argued that instead of demanding accountability from relevant authorities for the failure of the peace process, his critics have unfairly targeted him. He questioned the logic behind calls for his arrest, asking whether persuading criminals to lay down their arms should be considered an offence.
He said, “So, what is there to arrest for? For calling them to lay arms or amenities for them, or to educate the nation on their side of the story?”
