Who Will Stop Boko Haram, Bandits?’ – Gumi Questions Nigeria’s Security Strategy

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has raised questions over who would be willing to engage Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits in dialogue, arguing that similar peace efforts had previously been employed to address militancy in the Niger Delta.

Gumi made the remarks in a Facebook post on Saturday while discussing possible solutions to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

The cleric recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo held discussions with militants in the Niger Delta as part of efforts to restore peace to the oil-producing region.

According to him, Jonathan visited militants in the creeks during his administration, while Osinbajo also engaged with them during his time in government, with both efforts eventually contributing to programmes aimed at reducing militancy.

Drawing a comparison with the security situation in northern Nigeria, Gumi suggested that any attempt to open dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents or armed bandits would likely attract criticism from sections of the public.

“The former President Jonathan visited Delta militants in the creeks, so also the former Vice President Osinbajo. They all came up with a programme to tame the militants. Who is going to visit BH and bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” he wrote.

Gumi has consistently advocated dialogue as part of a broader strategy to address Nigeria’s insecurity, maintaining that negotiations should complement military operations in tackling insurgency and banditry.