Sheikh Gumi on Bandit Proscription, Proposes Amnesty

Islamic Cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has faulted the Court’s decision to declare proscribed bandit groups as terrorists. Gumi says this will only lead to more military action which has neither resolved the Boko Haram problem nor brought an end to banditry in the country.

In a prior interview moments before the court judgment, the Muslim cleric shared his thoughts on some of the problems related to tackling banditry with Arise News correspondent.

He said using force or extrajudicial action on bandits by the government is counterproductive and would only aggravate the already fragile truce brokered in the extradition warrant which has resulted in the insurgents surrendering themselves and turning in their arms.

He likened the situation of applying force to using insecticide in a room to kill mosquitoes but which according to him, is not enough to kill them, instead makes them hostile.

Gumi said the situation should be resolved without necessarily resorting to extrajudicial killing as 50 to 60 senior insurgents that have laid down their arms are being picked up one by one. He said when they lay down their arms, they become prey but that they are holding unto the gun for survival.

“We want a solution out of this problem without being unnecessarily extra judiciously killed or eliminated when they put down their weapons. If the government can give a period of serious amnesty and follow up by rehabilitation and device rules on how to dislodge them, not by force but by enticing them to what is better,” he said.