Video: ‘They Are Fighting For Survival’ – Gumi Advocates Talks With Bandits

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has linked the rising wave of banditry in Nigeria to what he termed an “existential struggle” being waged by Fulani herders, calling on the government to address the crisis with a nuanced understanding of its underlying causes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Gumi explained that the majority of armed groups operating in forested areas are pastoral Fulani fighting for survival, rather than urban Fulani.

“They are fighting for their very existence… Their lives revolve around cattle, which they often inherit. They’ll say, ‘This cow came from my grandfather,’” he said.

The cleric urged Nigerians to distinguish between rural Fulani herders and urban Fulani, cautioning against treating all as the same.

“They are mainly herders, not town-dwelling Fulani. It’s important to make that distinction,” he stressed.

Gumi also emphasized that the Nigerian military alone cannot resolve the crisis.

“We need a strong army… but even the military acknowledges that in these civil conflicts, only about 5% of the solution is kinetic action. The rest depends on government policies, politics, and the local communities. The military cannot do it all,” he said.

‘I Withdrew After Terrorist Designation’

Addressing criticism of his peace efforts with bandit groups, Gumi revealed that he stopped his mediation once the federal government officially designated the groups as terrorists.

“My last engagement with them was in 2021. I tried to bring the factions together for peace, but the government was not receptive. When they were labeled terrorists, I withdrew entirely,” he said.

He denied any collusion with bandits, noting that his meetings were public and conducted with government knowledge.

“I always go with the authorities and with the press. I never meet them alone,” he explained.

Gumi also sparked controversy by describing the kidnapping of schoolchildren as a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of soldiers.

“Of course, kidnapping children is wrong, but it’s a lesser evil than killing soldiers. Both are crimes, but killing is worse,” he said, citing the mass abduction in Kebbi State, where children were eventually released unharmed.

When asked about a message for parents of kidnapped children, he said, “It is evil, and we pray for their safe return.”

‘No Religion Prohibits Negotiation’

Reiterating his long-held stance, Gumi insisted that neither the Quran nor the Bible forbids negotiating with bandits when it can save lives.

“The idea that we don’t negotiate—it’s not in the Bible, it’s not in the Quran. In practice, everyone negotiates with non-state actors to achieve peace,” he said.

“If negotiation can stop bloodshed, it is the right thing to do.”