Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has hit back at critics demanding his arrest over his recent comments on banditry and national security.
In a strongly worded Facebook post on Sunday, Gumi described those calling for his arrest as “spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people,” insisting they are more interested in outrage than in finding real solutions.
Gumi defended his long-standing mediation efforts, recalling a major intervention in January 2021 at the Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Kaduna State. According to him, he and the then Kaduna State Commissioner of Police met with over 600 armed bandits and their commanders, persuading them to embrace peace.
He said the bandits agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for security and basic amenities — conditions he claims the government failed to honour, leading to the collapse of the peace window.
“The purpose of the meeting was to de-escalate violence. The outcome was that over 600 bandits agreed to surrender their weapons. They presented conditions… None fulfilled,” Gumi wrote.
The cleric questioned why his mediation efforts should provoke calls for his arrest, warning that silencing voices advocating dialogue could worsen insecurity.
“Is free speech no longer part of our constitutional right?” he asked.
Gumi urged Nigerians to prioritise practical solutions over emotional reactions, praying that the nation is protected from “bigotry, stubbornness and intolerance of contrary views.”
