Categories: News

Gumi: Bandits Are Shy People —They Should Be Pacified Not Attacked

Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, says bandits are reclusive and easy-going people who should be appeased instead of being attacked.

Recall that Gumi, last week, said he met with some bandits in the forest of Zamfara.

After the meeting, Gumi proposed that the bandits should be granted amnesty and their previous atrocities should be forgiven, adding that they are victims of cattle rustling and extortion.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the cleric said the bandits have suffered needless attacks in the hands of other people and that their only saving grace now is that their used-to-be attackers and oppressors are now suffering.

He noted that they would give up their weapons should the federal government grant them amnesty.

He added that the bandits are coordinated and know how to protect themselves, stating that they are now attacking village and an attack on one of them will be seen as an attack on all which will be gravely retaliated.

“These people (bandits) know how to organise themselves and protect themselves and they have started attacking villages all around. Once you touch one of them, the whole of them will come together to attack a village. They mobilise themselves through the bush. So, it is not good to attack them, honestly speaking,” Gumi said.

“The Hausa are suffering and they have therefore stopped attacking the Fulani herdsmen. So, we should not attack them. We should just pacify them and they are a very shy people. If you meet them, they are very shy.

“When you offer them amnesty, they drop their weapons. Then you go in, build schools for them, build hospitals for them, get them censored; get them registered; then you can control (them)”