Sheikh Gumi Reveals Confession Of Fighters About 'Real' Cause Of Banditry In Nigeria

As Nigeria continue to contend with banditry activities in the north, controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has posited that the operations of the Nigerian Army "are detrimental to the peace processes".

According to Gumi via his known Facebook page on Sunday, his camp has confessions from bandits that 'the Nigerian military's excesses in the past are one of the causative factors of the banditry in the first place'.

He criticised the military, saying, "how can the military attack armed bandits only to stir them to reprisal attacks on defenceless civilians they cannot come back to protect?"

He went ahead to describe Fulani herdsmen as 'natural warriors who would not easily succumb to the killing of their kin'.

He insists that dialogue is the solution to banditry activities in Nigeria - not military force.

Read Sheikh Gumi's full post below:

THE ZAMFARA CARNAGE: THE BROKEN PEACE ACCORD!

It’s past 2.30 am, I could not sleep when I keep on thinking why are innocent people should be killed in such mayhem against all known conventions whether religious or secular. Why is the peace process in Zamfara broken after a relative period of stability with markets open?

How can there be a peace treaty by the state government, then the FG might will chip in to the bombardment of the herdsmen in their forest just at a time confidence-building is most needed, by that killing hundred in their huts as reported?

I was in the forest, and I know what can bring peace to this state. But, unfortunately, the Military is out of the equation, and their operations are detrimental to the peace processes and also, we have confessions from the fighters that its excesses in the past are one of the causative factors of the banditry in the first place.

How can a nation use aerial bombardment on its citizens with guaranteed fatality on civilian victims especially when the peace options were not exhausted?

How can the military attack armed bandits only to stir them to reprisal attacks on defenseless civilians they cannot come back to protect? We all know the Fulani herdsmen are natural warriors, they won't easily succumb to the killing of their kin.

We have heard why they are fighting. We have preached to them to desist and lay their weapons, they said, so long they are attacked and innocent people among them are killed, they will continue their fight. So why are we surprised? Who is doing this to our ummah?

Allah said in Q49/9:

“If two parties among the Believers fall into combating each other, make ye peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies then make peace between them with justice and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).”

We, therefore, call for the cessation of all hostilities and the continuation of serious dialogue and wider consultation to avert greater catastrophe and genocide.

Allah is My witness, I have done my part by denouncing and informing!

May Allah returns us to our sanity and abates the fire of fitnah in our Nation. Amin.

Bandits in the country’s northwest are terrorizing civilians, destabilizing the region, and empowering jihadists.

Banditry has become a huge problem in Nigeria.