BOMBSHELL!!! Sheikh Gumi Accuses Military Of Attacking Innocent Residents And Claiming They Are Bandits.
Controversial Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has made yet another controversial statement on his usual subject – banditry and bandits.
Sheikh Gumi was reacting to the recent bombardment of bandits in forests in Zamfara and Katsina when he made his latest controversial remark.
The bombardment has reportedly led to the forceful displacement bandits from their strongholds while hundreds of them have been killed and others arrested.
What Sheikh Gumi Said
Sheikh Gumi condemned the ongoing military onslaughts, saying only residents of the adjoining states are suffering the effects of the military action in Zamfara, as the bandits have since escaped.
“By the way, what you may not hear is that the bandits over the years have developed escape routes from aerial bombardments. They told us: you can only kill our women and children with your attacks!”, the cleric posted on his verified Facebook page.
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He continued: “Just yesterday (Thursday), two contingents of banditry victims came to me that their loved ones were abducted by bandits in Kaduna suburbs – Rigachukun and Keke. An escapee engineer in the later said when he overheard and understood that they (bandits) were strangers in the area as they were calling the locals to lead them, that gave him the courage to slip through densely grown maize plantations to escape.
“The point is that, if Zamfara is on fire for them, definitely it goes without saying that they will migrate to other areas. So, is the whole of Nigeria going to be under lock-up in incommunicado? (sic),” Mr Gumi queried.
“War has never been the solution anywhere anytime” he said, urging the Nigerian government to grant an amnesty to the bandits.
“I am a qualified Medical Doctor who knows what it takes to precisely excise a brain tumour without destroying the delicate surrounding brain tissues. I was a commissioned military officer who knows what the military is for and what is the capability of our military. I am an intellectual with a Ph.D. from Abroad. I am an Islamic scholar who knows the immorality of killing innocent lives. So, silence for me in this ocean of oblivion is not an option,” Sheikh Gumi said.
He added that “a sensible person would not allow his dwelling to be a theatre of war,” adding, “killing rats in your rat-infested sitting room with an iron rod will only end up destroying your gadgets and furniture probably without killing any. We should not mask out poor governance with artillery power.”
“My mission has not failed but it was sabotaged or discouraged by the same influential people that benefit from the chaos or like us to destroy ourselves and leave the herdsmen in perpetual ignorance,” Sheikh Gumi continued.
“Some said we have tried amnesty but it didn’t work. You didn’t try amnesty but tried amnesia. Amnesty without rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reparation is no amnesty. Ask the former Niger Delta Militants who killed security men in the past what an amnesty is. What stops us from having a federal ministry of Nomadic Affairs where their grievances and complaints will be addressed?
“All the bandit leaders we saw complained of how some repentant ones were picked and extra-judicially killed after the surrender of their weapons. Without their trust of the very unjust system all Nigerians complain of, which they took arms to fight, peace and negotiations with them will not work. This brings our role of mediation.
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“They (bandits) know as religious men we will not deceive them, and they came out in troops to meet us. To our astonishment, it is the same unjust system that turns round to betray our peace mission. Some of the press for giving a negative narrative, whom I also term criminals-in-purpose.
“Some of the politicians who I see as urban-bandits who, out of their share mismanagement of our meagre resources and misplacement of priority, cause the death and infirmity of more people than the bandits affect.
“Of recent, how many Nigerians die of cholera -a water-borne disease- because of lack of simple clean water to drink, or typhoid, malaria, and malnutrition? A nation with a maternal mortality rate of almost 500000/annum because of the lack of adequate maternal health facilities and qualified staff. A country where its highly-priced medical personnel is looking for a window to escape the inferno. Such a country, please!
“As for the economic impact of the areas now under siege, it’s just a matter of time, you’ll hear them crying out. Already yesterday a man from Tsafe came begging because of economic stagnation, one would have thought that Gusau the capital is closer than Kaduna to beg.
“As for those cynics that have no value to add in the dilemma except vituperation, and abuses, we know that is the substance they are made up of. No qualms whatsoever! you don’t expect fragrance from faeces,” Sheikh Gumi said.
“Good Intelligence! Good proficient policing, engagement of the local herdsmen in policing, rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reparation of all victims of banditry.
“The good, honest judiciary that protects people’s rights. Money and time well spent on these will surely kill the disease and heal the nation of this delinquency, crimes, and bad governance,” he concluded.
Yoruba Group, Afenifere, Blasts Sheikh Gumi Over Recent Visit To Igboho
The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has accused popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi of inciting violence following his visit to Igboho.
Afenifere said Gumi’s visit to Igboho is an absurdity taken too far by Gumi.
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The organisation was reacting to a video of Gumi visiting Igboho, headquarters of Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In the video circulated online, Gumi was seen standing by the signpost of a school in Modeke area of Igboho.
Igboho is the birthplace of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho.
Afenifere, in a statement by its spokesman, Jare Ajayi said: “But the circumstance of their visit to Igboho and what they said while in the town are not only provocative and inciting but also a way of mocking the people of the area and the person of Sunday Adeyemo.
“While in Igboho, Gumi showed some cows grazing near a school compound in the area and said that it showed that anybody should be free to graze anywhere without being molested.
“We take serious exception to Gumi or anyone else from outside Yorubaland to come and declare the area as belonging to any particular religion.”
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