Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said some bandits he interacted with claimed they continued killing in retaliation for attacks on their communities.

Gumi said the armed men viewed the violence as a cycle of revenge and retaliation, adding that some believed they could be killed if they abandoned their activities.

The cleric made the disclosure during an interview on PAPShow, published on October 29, excerpts of which went viral on social media on Tuesday.

According to him, one of the bandits he spoke with admitted that the bloodshed had become excessive, although members of the group believed they had been forced to continue the violence.

“One of the bandits was telling us the bloodshed is too much,” Gumi said.

He added, “They, too, are not happy. And they say they are forced to do it.”

Explaining the grievances expressed by the armed men, Gumi said they complained that military operations initially aimed at tackling cattle rustling had resulted in the killing of women and children in their communities.

He recalled questioning why women and children were killed during the military operations.

“But why did they kill their women and children? Why are they killing their women and children? Why are the vigilantes arresting them and killing them? Why?” he quoted the bandits as asking.

Gumi said the armed men viewed the violence as a cycle of revenge, driven by attacks on their communities.

“So, they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counterattack,” he said.

He argued that the continued bloodshed made dialogue necessary, adding that religious leaders had a responsibility to encourage both sides to embrace negotiations.

“So, we, as clergy, our own duty is to look at how to stop it. Let’s stop the bloodshed. Let’s come to the table,” he said.

When asked why the bandits could not simply abandon their activities, Gumi said they feared they would be killed if they surrendered or stopped fighting.

“Because they thought they were killed. So, we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be killed,” he said.

The cleric also alleged that financial support and competition among rival armed groups were contributing to the proliferation of weapons.

Asked whether some individuals were sponsoring the bandits, Gumi said, “It’s possible now. You know, it’s possible now.”

He explained that the groups sometimes used money received to acquire more weapons as they competed to possess superior firepower.

“They buy more weapons because there’s an arms race between them. You know, there are different groups.

“There’s an arms race. So, this den has more machine guns than this one. So, they should fear them,” he said.

On how the armed groups obtained their weapons, Gumi said they relied on illegal markets.

“Well, it’s a black market, like drugs. It’s a black market. If you just have the money, you get them,” he said.

He further alleged that foreign intelligence agencies could be involved in supplying weapons to armed groups, but did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim.

“Foreign intelligence definitely have a hand in it,” he said.

Asked whether foreign countries could be arming Nigerian bandits and terrorists, Gumi replied, “It’s possible,” adding that countries with an interest in Nigeria could potentially be involved.

He did not, however, identify any country or provide evidence to support the allegation.

Banditry remains a major security challenge in northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-West, where armed groups have carried out killings, kidnappings and attacks on rural communities.

Gumi has previously engaged with some armed groups as part of his advocacy for dialogue and negotiations to end the violence. His approach has attracted criticism from Nigerians who argue that negotiating with bandits could undermine efforts to hold them accountable for their crimes.