‘Why arrest me?’ — Gumi slams critics, says 600 bandits once accepted peace deal

Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has pushed back against mounting calls for his arrest, criticising those who fault his repeated commentary on banditry and national security matters.

For years, Gumi has positioned himself as a go-between for authorities and armed groups operating in the North. His involvement has continued to spark divided opinions, with some Nigerians accusing him of shielding criminal elements by urging dialogue rather than military confrontation.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the cleric reiterated his stance and defended his interactions with bandit leaders, dismissing his detractors as “spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people” who, in his view, prioritise outrage over an honest assessment of the crisis.

Gumi said he sees no basis for the rising demands that security agencies apprehend him, insisting that his engagement with bandit factions has been geared towards reducing violence.

READ ALSO:Bandits only on revenge mission unlike IPOB that’s after secession -Sheikh Gumi

According to him, many of the loudest voices calling for punitive action against him are motivated by bigotry, misinformation and an inability to tolerate alternative viewpoints.

“ARREST HIM!!! These are the only words some spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people can utter,” he wrote, accusing critics of turning his peace efforts into political ammunition while the country’s security situation deteriorates.

Reflecting on past interventions, the cleric recounted a major outreach in January 2021 at Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He said the outreach was conducted with the then Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, who represented the Inspector-General of Police at the time.

He explained that the gathering involved more than 600 armed bandits and their commanders as part of a broader effort to persuade them to renounce violence, surrender weapons and halt attacks on communities.

“I was at Sabon Garin Yadi forest, accompanied by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police… This meeting was part of a peace initiative where we preached to over 600 bandits and their commanders, who agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for security and basic amenities,” he said.

Gumi emphasised that the negotiations were transparent, legitimate and carried out with the knowledge and approval of relevant authorities.

He lamented that the assurances sought by the bandits — including provision of basic services, protection from indiscriminate arrests and safety guarantees — were never fulfilled, causing the peace effort to collapse.

According to him, instead of interrogating why those commitments were not implemented, many Nigerians have chosen to vilify him personally.

“The purpose of the meeting was an effort to de-escalate violence by having bandits surrender their weapons and embrace peace.

“The outcome was that over 600 bandits agreed to lay down their arms. They presented conditions to the government… None fulfilled,” he said.

He questioned why his attempt to foster dialogue and national stability should trigger calls for him to be detained.

“So, what is there to arrest for? For calling them to lay arms or amenities for them, or to educate the nation on their side of the story?” he asked.

The cleric further criticised what he described as the double standards of his opponents, insisting that constitutional rights include the freedom to express dissenting views.
“Is free speech no longer part of our constitutional right? Is their call for arrest not also prejudiced and an incitement to more violence?” he queried.
Gumi urged Nigerians to move beyond emotional reactions and adopt more pragmatic solutions to the banditry challenge, warning that hate-fuelled rhetoric only compounds insecurity.

He argued that silencing advocates of dialogue does little to address the socioeconomic and structural issues that drive rural banditry and insurgency.

Concluding his statement, Gumi prayed for national unity, noting that intolerance and prejudice remain significant threats to peace.

“May Allah protect our nation from bigotry, stubborn and complete intolerance of contrary views and opinions,” he wrote.