‘Kanu, Igboho Don’t Kidnap Their Tribesmen Like Bandits’ — Nigerians Slam Gumi Over Facebook Post

Some Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions over a statement made by the controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi, warning the Federal Government against declaring bandits in the northwestern part of the country as terrorists.

Gumi took to his Facebook page on Monday to ask the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to halt such intention if it is being considered as “it will come with a prize”.

Advertisement

He said naming bandits as terrorists or “Islamic [terrorists] for that matter” will only allow the “direct foreign Jihadist movements to set in in force”, as many teaming unemployed youths may find it palatable and attractive.

He said, “North East is already and is still devastated by this madness for over 12 years. If we allow, terror, to set in into these raw naïve unexposed bandits, North West will be in ruins sooner than later.

“Already IPOB are destroying South East, and Igboho has set the ball of confusion rolling in South West. For those who want to destroy the North West, it’s a good recipe. Turn bandits into religious zealots. Tell me, what then remains of Nigeria?”

The cleric’s statement has since sparked reactions in the comments section of his post.

Advertisement

A Facebook user, Jamilu Yusuf Dahiru, said that declaring bandits as terrorists shouldn’t be a thing of debate as “People can’t be dying unjustly and indiscriminately. Bandits are purely terrorists.”

Another Facebook user, Ugo Chukwu Zuk, agreed with the Islamic scholar that it will be “counterproductive to declare these bandits as terrorists, particularly where the Government can still effectively fight these criminal bandits without their appellation as terrorists”.

Zuk added that naming them as terrorists will “further give them a moral and religious justification to their atrocities as servants of Allah”.

But El Yassar Ahmad wondered why bandits should be treated differently from the IPOB and Oduduwa separatist groups.

He said, “I feel ashamed of whatever you write as regards banditry and kidnappings. Mallam, how do you feel whenever you hear of a fresh attack by the bandits since you don’t want them to be addressed as terrorists? Stop disgracing yourself jo”.

Advertisement

On his part, Tajudeen Nuhu said, “Leave KANU and Igboho out, they aren’t our problem in the North West, they may be deeply flawed and transgress in the pursuit of their project but they don’t kill or kidnap their tribesmen to ransom like the bandits you humanize and defend on a whim”.

Meanwhile, Abdulhakeem Idris asked that the cleric should look away from politics and sentiments, but focus on what the Quran says on the issue of banditry and crime.

Idris wrote: “Let’s use the Quran, what did it say about Banditry or crime? And what did it say about supporting crime or Banditry? A well knowledgeable Figure like you, should speak base on what the Quran says”.

Mansir Lawal pen said: “These bandits you’re covering and defending aren’t ready to listen like IPOB and Oduduwa.

“Otherwise they would have since abandoned their weapons are accept dialogue, and amnesty given to them by all the state governors.

“Even you have visited the bandit’s enclaves several times though the public doesn’t know what you’re telling them, but if what you’re telling them was truly peace, they should have listened to you if they are peace lovers”.

Leave a comment

Advertisement