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Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has advanced reasons why the Nigerian government must negotiate with bandits to deescalate insecurity in the North-West.
Speaking with the BBC, he said the Nigerian military cannot defeat bandits through warfare.
According to him, everywhere in the world, armies struggle against guerrilla fighters and Nigeria cannot be an exception.
“But even the military says that, in dealing with this civil unrest and criminality, only 25 percent is kinetic action; the rest depends on the government, politics and local communities. The military cannot do everything.
“Where have you ever seen the military defeat guerrilla fighters? Nowhere.”
Sheikh Gumi has described the kidnapping of schoolchildren as a “lesser evil” compared to killing soldiers,
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He said while the abduction of minors is “evil,” it remains less grievous than murder — particularly in situations where kidnapped children are eventually released unharmed.
“Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely is lesser. Killing is worse than, but they are all evil. It’s just a lesser evil. Not all evils are of the same power.
He cited previous incidents, including the mass abduction in Kebbi State, arguing that the victims were freed without fatalities.
“So it’s a lesser evil than, like, what happened in Kebbi. They abducted children, and they were released. They didn’t kill them.”
Gumi’s comment comes as President Bola Tinubu ordered security agents to ensure that all those abducted by terrorists are released.
Tinubu had directed security forces to work with state governors in ensuring that abducted victims are released.
