- Gumi recounted a major intervention he undertook in January 2021 inside the Sabon Garin Yadi forest
- the bandits agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for basic amenities, protection from arbitrary arrests
- He maintained that free speech remains a constitutional right
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has pushed back strongly against mounting calls for his arrest over his persistent comments on banditry and national security.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Islamic scholar has long positioned himself as a go-between for government authorities and armed groups, a role that continues to divide public opinion.
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While many believe his dialogue approach offers a path to peace, critics accuse him of shielding criminal elements by discouraging military action.
Responding through a Facebook statement on Sunday, Gumi labelled his opponents as intolerant individuals who favour noise over solutions.
He argued that engaging with bandits is not a crime and insisted that the anger directed at him stems from prejudice rather than reason.
Gumi recounted a major intervention he undertook in January 2021 inside the Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He said he was accompanied by the then Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, who represented the Inspector-General of Police during the mission.
The cleric explained that the meeting brought together more than 600 armed bandits and their commanders as part of an initiative to convince them to surrender their weapons and stop attacking rural communities.
According to him, the bandits agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for basic amenities, protection from arbitrary arrests and assurances of safety—terms he said the government failed to honour, leading to the collapse of the peace process.
He expressed frustration that rather than interrogate the government’s failure to fulfil its promises, many Nigerians have chosen to attack him personally.
Gumi questioned why mediation efforts carried out in the national interest should provoke calls for arrest, adding that silencing differing views does nothing to resolve the crisis.
He maintained that free speech remains a constitutional right and warned that emotional reactions only worsen insecurity.
The cleric concluded with a prayer for unity, saying bigotry and intolerance pose significant threats to national peace.
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