Put Children Of Bandits In School – Gumi Tells Govt

Islamic cleric Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi has called on the Nigerian military and the Federal Government to adopt a new strategy in tackling banditry and insurgency across the country.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Kaduna, Gumi argued that the heavy reliance on military force had failed to end insecurity in several parts of the country despite years of operations against armed groups.

He noted that the kinetic approach deployed against insurgents and bandits over the past 17 years had not produced lasting peace, particularly since the Boko Haram insurgency escalated in 2009.

According to him, the inability to achieve sustainable results through force alone showed the need for authorities to reconsider their approach to the security crisis.

The cleric advocated dialogue, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant bandits as part of broader efforts aimed at restoring peace in affected communities.

Gumi stated that previous attempts at negotiations in states such as Katsina and Zamfara were unsuccessful because the authorities allegedly focused mainly on financial settlements without establishing long-term rehabilitation programmes.

He urged the government to remove armed groups from the forests while prioritising education for their children as part of efforts to break the cycle of violence.

The cleric further stated that many bandits were willing to surrender but feared arrest, retaliation or possible execution after laying down their weapons.

According to him, there was a need for a credible amnesty and rehabilitation framework capable of encouraging repentant fighters to embrace peace.

Gumi also questioned whether authorities had genuinely listened to the grievances and conditions of those willing to surrender.

He drew comparisons with the rehabilitation programme introduced for repentant Boko Haram members, noting that a similar model could be explored in addressing rural banditry across the North-West region.

The cleric further linked insecurity to poverty, corruption and social injustice, urging political leaders to pursue reforms capable of addressing the root causes of violence across the country.