Declaring Bandits Terrorist Will be Accompanied by a Fee the FG Wouldn’t Want to Pay – Sheikh Gumi.
A Well- known Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi recently discussed the problem of insecurity within the country, especially in Northwestern Nigeria, as well as the agitation in favour of self-determination in the South- East and Southwest region of the country.
According to a recent post sight on Gumi’s Facebook page, he warned that declaring notorious Bandits as terrorists will be accompanied by a fee that the federal government of Nigeria would not want to pay. He argued that the moment the notorious bandits are called terrorists, Islamic, the direct foreign Jihadist movements will come into effect, and a lot of unemployed young people may find it pleasant and attractive.
However, Sheikh Gumi further Speaking about secession agitation in the South- East and South- West, Gumi disclosed that he hoped for another Igbo clergy to go in Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB ” militants” and let them see reason, whereas another minister of Oduduwa land Speak up against Igboho secessionist tribal movement by making us aware of the values of coherent nationalism.
Sheikh Ahmed Gumi believes the solution to the tension in the Southeast and Southwest as regards agitation for self- determination, rests solely upon religious leaders.
He said that if a southern religious leader could do that, it would guarantee freedom, equality, and justice for everybody. He went on to say that religious forces can penetrate hardened hearts wherever lay forces cannot.
I believe that the leaders of the Southeast and Southwest should follow the advice of Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, seek out a prominent ecclesiastical in their respective states who is well respected to talk to the agitators. Just like Gumi in the North West, religious leaders in the South should become more involved in promoting peace and unity in Nigeria.
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Although Gumi has been strongly criticized since he began advocating dialogue as the best way to end northern banditry, We also need to understand that his efforts have contributed to reducing bandit activity in the northern region. Remember that Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina recently asked Mr. Gumi as a ” terrorist lover” for its open partnership with bandits killing and kidnapping civilians in the Northwest, But that hasn’t stopped him from doing what he feels is the right thing to do.
In his words, Gumi said: ” Declaring Bandits as Terrorists: will come with a prize! Nobody doubts that sentimentalism today overrides sensibility in our polity. For the sake of posterity, some people will have to speak out. “
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Adding that ” The acts the Bandits are committing now in NW have gradually over time become tantamount to terrorism because wherever innocent people are fatal victims it’ s pure terrorism. Yet, innocence these days is relative. We agreed if their children and women are also killed, they are guilty by association or collateral damage, so also the bandits may think the same way. It’ s right for vigilantes to lynch Fulanis herdsmen or anyone that looks like them by profiling but wrong for the herdsmen to ransack villages in retribution. They are pushed to believe it is an existential war and in war, ethics are thrown to the winds. “
” Yet again, the only helpful part that is against Bandits is that no other than them are attracted to join them in the NW because of its ethnic tinge and coloration. However, the moment they are termed Terrorist– Islamic for that matter, the direct foreign Jihadist movements will set in in force. And many teaming unemployed youths may find it palatable and attractive. Shouting ‘ Allahu Akbar’ plus AK47 against a ‘ secular’ immoral society where impunity reigns are the magnet for extremists and downtrodden– the majority of our youth. Already these deadly terrorist groups are fighting for the soul of these bandits. “
He further explained that, ” This will give criminality a spiritual cover and remove the stigma of discrediting them with such crimes since now they are fighting a ‘ Jihad’ as they will claim. In such a situation, does the larger society- as it is- has the moral high ground to fight back? This is the most probable consequence, the price of which is not worth it. Nothing stops the kinetic actions from going on without the controversy of semantics. “
” NE 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, NW will be in ruins sooner than later. Already IPOB are destroying SE, and Igboho has set the ball of confusion rolling in SW. For those who want to destroy the NW, it’ s a good recipe. Turn bandits into religious zealots. Tell me, what then remains of Nigeria? “
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” I have started to get these raw bandits out of their misadventure but unfortunately, I have few helpers and a mountain of antagonists. The psychology in fighting natives is to induce a motive for their struggle if they don’t have one already, a motive that is manageable, and it is so managed. Unfortunately, reactions to threat in our nation are always slow and incoherent. “
” I hope another Igbo clergy goes into the IPOB militants likewise and talk sense into them, and another Pastor of Oduduwa land talks against the Igboho secessionist tribal movement by way of sensitizing people to the values of a cohesive nationalism that will guaranty freedom, equality, and justice for all. Religious forces can permeate hardened hearts where secular forces cannot. “
He further stated that ” Regrettably, people just sit down in the comfort of their rooms or parlors and make useless passing comments that only add fuel to the inferno of ethnic jingoism and bigotry. In the 21st century, Nigeria is hijacked by semi- illiterates and half- baked tribal heroes that have nothing to offer besides promoting tribal xenophobia. Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groupings, it’ s not possible to divide such a nation into tribal enclaves. “
” Nigeria is multi-religious, even with one same religion or sect there is no harmony and understanding that can build a prosperous unified nation where tranquility and development will flourish. We are tired of these bogus destructive fruitless slogans! “
” Nigerians are in a daydream so long they act by Nerval impulses not by the dictates of their cerebral cortex. May Allah protect us all. Amin”
Let’s take a look at some reactions from people online below:
” Minister of bandits affairs has spoken. “
” I said it elsewhere that proscribing NW bandits as terrorists won’ t change the status of the fight. Banditry in NW has no single authority. . . it’ s a scattered criminal groups motivated by the fact that their ethnic group has been oppressed and exploited by people in the authority. “
” If USA could not wipe terrorist Taliban in 20 years, I wonder how NA can wipe the menace of fulani bandits during our life time. I strongly advocate for the use of different methods of conflict resolution rather than the use of military offensive alone. “
” This is the bitter Truth that most people fail to understand that if the government declare them as without taking any action or measure of safeguarding other people who have no connection with the banditry action will led to negative action on the declaration. “
” Dr. we Nigerians doesn’ t demand for such lengthy write- up and to be sincere I see no reason why should be talking on such issue and other related matters, let the govt charge the full course of this matter. People can’ t be dying unjustly and indiscriminately.
Bandits are purely terrorists”
” Leave KANU and igboho out, they aren’ t our problem in the NW, they may be deeply flawed and transgress in the pursuit of their project but they don’ t kill or kidnap their tribemen to ransom like the bandits you humanize and defend on a whim. “
” Very few people can and will understand what Dr. Gumi is saying and have been saying. I think he should be well reasoned with by, especially, the authorities concerned. “
” I get his point and I think I’ m beginning to see reasons why it may be counterproductive to declare these bandits as terrorists, particularly where the Government can still effectively fight these criminal bandits without their appellation as terrorists. While I don’ t agree on the tags on IPOB and Igboho- led Oduduwa agitators, I agree with the the Sheikh that labelling bandits as terrorists will attract fully fledged support of international terrorist groups and further give them a moral and religious justification to their atrocities as servants of ‘ Allah’ . “
” Shiek keep telling the truth, if they fail to understand you, they’ ll regret it sooner than later, most hausas are blindfolded with ethnic sentiment they’ ll never understand the situation on the ground until it’ s too late. tribal war is not an easy thin, may Allah bring peace to our umma. “
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