Why FG Must Negotiate With Bandits Who Abducted 287 Kaduna Students — Sheikh Gumi

Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has asked the Federal Government to adopt the negotiation approach it used for the release of the Kaduna-Abuja train victims, to secure the freedom of the recently abducted students and pupils of Kuriga, in the Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Gumi disclosed this in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, following reports of his willingness to facilitate discussions between the federal government and the bandits.

On March 7, armed men in large numbers invaded the Government Secondary School (GSS) and the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, both located in the same compound in Kuriga.

The assailants whisked away 287 victims and killed a vigilante during the attack.

Confirming his stance on the matter, Gumi said, “In the past when there was a train attack, the government had a high power committee of ex-generals and some academics that were able to negotiate with the captors.

“So, I said they should bring back the committee. The committee is still there and they can be employed.

“I also said that I am willing to be involved in the process because it is a humanitarian move. I think this time, they can be holistic — By holistic, I mean everyone should be involved in the negotiation and this is the time to do it.”

Gumi told THE WHISTLER that negotiating with the bandits was pertinent to reaching a compromise and halting the vicious circle of civilians constantly bearing the brunt of an ongoing semi-guerrilla war in the country.

When asked what he thought the bandits wanted, Gumi said, “The government knows what they want”, while alluding to the existence of various interests in the proliferation of insecurity in the country.

Asked why the federal government should negotiate with the bandits for the release of their captives, Gumi said, “The point is that, so many interests are involved in fighting banditry and bandits itself. There are so many interest groups. To sit down and have a holistic discussion will be very difficult because there are various interest groups.

“Like now, those who want to fight them kinetically get a lot of money from the government, and they wouldn’t want that money to stop.

“Those who benefit from the banditry also… Because that money is not only going to the bandits alone, it must be going to corrupt officials and they would not want it to stop.

“So, unless there is a good political will from the government… To say, let’s sit down… If you have a mutual enemy, no matter how bad he is… Just agree to sit down with him.

“You will see in Gaza, Israelis sitting down with Hamas to exchange prisoners, so if Israelis and Hamas can sit down and negotiate with intermediaries, I do not see anywhere in Nigeria, why we cannot sit down with criminals and negotiate our way out for peace.”

By negotiating, Gumi said it would require the federal government to “remove hostilities and put all matters on the table including seeking to know their grievances and why they are attacking people. Let us hear from them directly.”

The Islamic scholar asked that the federal government adopt the Niger Delta approach used to combat the insecurity in the region before things get out of control because terror attacks would continually affect the soft targets/civilians.

Gumi further reacted to those calling for his arrest, saying, “Nigerians are actually confused, and they do not know what they are doing, This problem bothers me more than anyone, because I am in the eyes of the storm.

“People are being killed and kidnapped everywhere and I am a victim of this banditry too, but to have a solution you need to go beyond your boundaries.

“I want to go to them to hear from them what it is that they want, and I was exactly shocked to understand that the problem can be solved, only that there is a communication gap and a lack of interest, this is the most I can tell you.”