Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reiterated his stance that Nigeria must prioritize dialogue over military force in tackling insurgents, bandits, and armed groups terrorizing communities across the country.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Gumi said he would personally champion a presidential pardon and amnesty for detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu if the agitator “shows remorse and calls for peace.”
Addressing criticisms that he appears sympathetic to violent actors, Gumi insisted, “I advocate for Nigeria, not for criminals,” warning that the nation is confronting a level of rural insurgency that no conventional army is equipped to defeat through force alone.
He highlighted the surge in kidnappings across the country, citing recent incidents in Kwara and other states that have left Nigerians living in fear.
“Children are being kidnapped in every state. There was one in Kwara, then another elsewhere. Everybody is afraid. Yet, with such outlaws capable of destabilizing Nigeria, the government still relies almost entirely on a military solution,” Gumi said.
He emphasized the limitations of conventional military strategies against guerrilla warfare, noting global examples such as Afghanistan and Israel.
“Guerrilla warfare is not what our army is designed for; no army in the world is built to defeat it outright. So if there are people genuinely ready to lay down their arms, why must our approach always be purely kinetic?” he questioned.
Gumi added that some armed groups are already willing to surrender, but the government’s insistence on a strictly militarized approach risks prolonging the crisis.
Citing historical precedents, he referenced former President Shehu Shagari’s pardon of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu after the civil war and late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s amnesty for Niger Delta militants.
“Let me give you an example: Nnamdi Kanu, who was imprisoned for terrorism and inciting attacks on soldiers. If Kanu were to show remorse and sincerely call for peace, I would be at the forefront of advocating for his pardon and amnesty. Look at Shagari granting amnesty to Ojukwu, and Yar’Adua to the militants,” Gumi stated.
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