Gumi calls for negotiation as bandits signal willingness to lay down arms

Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has renewed his call for a non-kinetic solution to Nigeria’s insecurity, insisting that many armed groups are willing to surrender their weapons if properly engaged.

He made this known on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he argued that dialogue and negotiation should be prioritised over an exclusively military approach.

Gumi questioned why the government continues to rely mainly on force when, according to him, several fighters are prepared to embrace peace.

He noted that even globally, major military powers have struggled against guerrilla-style conflicts. “We have people who are ready to put down their arms, so why do you always decide it has to be kinetic?” he asked.

“Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, and Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for guerrilla warfare; no army is designed for the kind of people we are facing now.”

When asked whether individuals who show remorse should be reintegrated, he explained the difference between communal conflict and personal criminality.

He said that communal clashes are complex because entire communities may be involved, making prosecution difficult.

He recalled that after the Nigerian civil war, despite atrocities and massive casualties, those responsible were eventually pardoned because the conflict was communal in nature.

However, he stressed that individual crimes, such as one person killing another, must still be addressed through the law.

Gumi also stated that he would support a pardon for the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, if Kanu expresses genuine remorse and a willingness to pursue peace.