Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has hit back at growing calls for his arrest over his interactions with bandits, saying he has committed no crime and only worked for peace in Nigeria.
In a fiery post shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Gumi described those demanding his arrest as “spineless, unpatriotic imbeciles” who lack the courage to face Nigeria’s real problems.
For years, Gumi has positioned himself as a mediator between the government and armed bandits, especially in the North West, drawing both praise and outrage. His calls for dialogue instead of military force have remained controversial.
According to him, “ARREST HIM!!!” has become the only response from a section of Nigerians who fail to understand the complexity of the security crisis. He accused his critics of choosing outrage over reason and ignoring the details of his peace efforts.
Gumi recalled leading a major peace mission in January 2021 to Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Kaduna State, accompanied by the then Commissioner of Police. Over 600 armed bandits, including top commanders, reportedly agreed to surrender and stop attacks in exchange for basic amenities and safety assurances.
He said the meeting was authorised and transparent, but the government failed to honour the agreed conditions, which led to a collapse of the peace deal.
“Instead of asking why the government failed, some of you would rather insult me,” Gumi wrote. “So, what’s the crime? Calling them to lay down arms or asking the government to keep its promises?”
The cleric insisted that free speech is still a constitutional right, and that no one should be criminalised for holding an unpopular opinion.
He warned that silencing those advocating dialogue won’t end banditry or insurgency, and blamed deep-rooted poverty, neglect and injustice for fuelling violence in rural areas.
“Bigotry and hate won’t save this country. If we truly want peace, we must be willing to listen — even to uncomfortable truths,” he added.
Gumi ended with a prayer for Nigeria’s unity and a call for more honest conversations about lasting solutions to insecurity.
Comments are closed.