Controversial northern Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended his frequent engagements with bandits and armed groups, insisting that his visits are carried out openly and always with the full knowledge of security operatives and government representatives.
Gumi made the remarks at the 2025 Southwest Muslims Ulama Summit held at the University of Ibadan, where he addressed what he described as years of “misrepresentation” by both the media and the Nigerian public regarding his interactions with gunmen.
According to him, his outreach is a deliberate intervention strategy aimed at understanding the root causes of insecurity and creating channels for education, reintegration, and rehabilitation.
“When I go, I go with the police. I don’t go alone. I go with the government. It’s not a one-man machine. I carry everybody along,” he said.
‘Lack of Education and Unemployment Are the Real Drivers of Insecurity’
The Kaduna-based cleric argued that Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is rooted in long-term social neglect, particularly the abandonment of herders who, he said, have been isolated from society without access to education or economic opportunities.
“The basic reason is lack of education and unemployment. These are the two evils,” Gumi stated.
He illustrated the impact of isolation by comparing the condition of uneducated herders to individuals left in the bush for extended periods without communication or learning.
“If you select maybe 10 people here, keep them with the cows alone, with no communication to the outside world… come back in one year and see how these 10 representatives will be. They will be mooing like a cow. If you don’t give man education, you’ll get nothing,” he said.
‘I’m Targeted Because of Misrepresentation’
Gumi lamented that his intentions have frequently been misconstrued, especially on social media, where he said misinformation has fueled attacks on his character.
“Whenever you hear of Gumi, then I have a barrage of attacks coming at me, all because of this misrepresentation,” he said.
“I can understand now what Muslims in the Southwest have been enduring.”
He stressed that his objective has always been to identify the source of insecurity rather than critique the crisis from a distance.
Focus on Dialogue, Reintegration
The cleric maintained that his approach seeks to integrate armed herders back into society through engagement, learning, and open communication.
He praised the Muslim scholars at the summit, saying that despite language differences, their concerns reflected a shared understanding of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“I don’t understand Yoruba, but I can understand from the vibration of the voices that we are saying the same thing,” he said.
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