Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, says he exporing other options to bring kidnapping, killings and other acts of a terrorism to a halt outside outright negotiation with bandits, the method, which brought him some tonguelahsing from a groundswell of Nigerians.
The Kaduna-based Islamic teacher, said his decision was to respect the position of the state government, which had made it clear that it prefer to completely wipe out the bandits rather than negotiate with them.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has not only made a vow that he would not go into such a negotiation, but would forbid anybody to do so on behalf of governmt, saying anyone undertaking such a mission would also be treated as a criminal in the same measure as the bandits.
Apparently taking a cue from the warning, Gumi, who had before now, been going into the forests to meet with the bandits, said he had adopted other options since the government was not ready to “reconcile” with the people.
Speaking with SaharaReporters on Thursday, spokesman to the Islamic cleric, Salisu Hassan, said Gumi who halted his plans to respect the decision of the state government, was looking at other ways of achieving the same goal.
He said: “No, it is not that Sheikh is busy. The problem is that since the government is not interested in reconciling with those people. So, Sheikh just tried to have some other way so that he can achieve his goals. The Kaduna State government said they are not interested in negotiations.”
Speaking during the presentation of the state’s 2020 Annual Security Report in Kaduna, El-Rufai said not only negotiation, the state government would also not grant any amnesty to the criminals terrorising his state.
Mr El-Rufai stressed that bandits, cattle rustlers and armed militias must be degraded and decimated “to a state of unconditional submission to constituted authority”.
According to him, these criminals must be wiped out immediately and without hesitation.
He said: “Our position in Kaduna State has been clear, unequivocal and consistent. Bandits, cattle rustlers and armed militias must be degraded and decimated to a state of unconditional submission to constituted authority.
“We will neither negotiate with criminals of any description nor support any grant of amnesty.
“Criminal gangs, bandits, insurgents and ethno-religious militias made a conscious choice to challenge Nigeria’s sovereignty and menace our citizens. These criminals must be wiped out immediately and without hesitation.”
The governor also lauded the recent directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari to the federal security agencies to wipe out gun-wielding criminals.
He, therefore, stressed the need to further empower the security sector to defeat the criminals, including providing the additional funds, the armament technology and the required personnel.
“I am further encouraged by the stance of Federal Government in my periodic interactions with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria Governors Forum, that there is near unanimity and broad consensus on the part of the national and sub-national political leadership – the President and the State Governors – on this course of action.
“We therefore need to further empower the security sector to defeat the criminals, including providing the additional funds, the armament technology and the required personnel.
“This national consensus to eliminate all forms of insecurity must be operationalized immediately. Our people face deadly perils daily.
“Converting this national consensus into decisions and actions in support of our armed forces, police and other security agencies with human and material resources cannot wait.”
