Nonsense — Gumi Hits Out at Critics of Dialogue with Bandits, Terrorist

A Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has criticised Nigerians who oppose his longstanding call for the Federal Government to engage in dialogue with terrorists and armed bandits.

In a post shared on Facebook on Friday, Gumi defended his position by pointing to ongoing diplomatic engagements between the United States and Iran, despite decades of deep-seated hostility between both nations.

“Peace talks between enemies. Iran sees the USA as the Biggest Devil. The USA sees Iran as part of the Axis of Evil. All parties see the other as terrorists. Yet they are over a roundtable. So don’t tell me the crap: ‘we don’t dialogue with terrorists” Gumi said.

Gumi has repeatedly advocated for negotiation and amnesty as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s protracted insecurity crisis. He has, in the past, drawn parallels with the amnesty programme introduced by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for Niger Delta militants, which helped reduce violence in the oil-rich region.

His remarks, however, have continued to generate controversy, with critics arguing that negotiating with armed groups could embolden further violence and undermine justice for victims.

The cleric also revisited his criticism of recent military operations, including reported airstrikes targeting suspected terrorists in Sokoto during the Christmas period. He questioned the effectiveness of such tactics, suggesting they may not offer a lasting solution to the insurgency.

“Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror,” he said, warning that such actions risk deepening tensions rather than resolving them.

Gumi further expressed concern over the location and timing of the strikes, arguing that they raised difficult questions about strategy and intent, particularly in regions where the threat level is contested.

His comments add to the ongoing national debate over how best to tackle insecurity, as Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry and communal violence across several regions.