Sheikh Gumi Questions Terrorist Label on Bandits, Calls for Negotiation Instead
Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has once again urged the Nigerian government to adopt dialogue and negotiation as key strategies in addressing insecurity in the country, rather than rushing to classify armed groups as terrorists.
Speaking in Kaduna, Gumi argued that many of the armed groups operating in Nigeria’s north are “ready to negotiate” and should be given a chance to be reintegrated into society. He warned that declaring them as terrorists without exploring dialogue could worsen the crisis and attract dangerous international consequences.
“People are ready to negotiate. Why are we rushing to declare them as terrorists?” he asked. “The acts these bandits are committing have gradually become tantamount to terrorism, yes—but the moment they are officially termed terrorists, especially ‘Islamic terrorists,’ foreign jihadist movements will set in forcefully.”
Gumi noted that his outreach to bandit groups has always been done in coordination with government officials, including security agents and traditional rulers.
According to him, his aim has never been to justify the crimes committed by the bandits but to help create a pathway for peace through dialogue.
He emphasized that negotiation remains a safer and more effective approach than prolonged military confrontation, which, he said, has often failed to address the root causes of insecurity.
“You can’t fight an ideology or desperation with bullets alone,” Gumi said. “We must understand that some of these people took up arms because of perceived neglect and poverty. Solving the problem requires social and economic intervention, not just airstrikes.”
The cleric has been a long-standing advocate for peaceful engagement with armed groups in northern Nigeria, frequently travelling to remote camps to meet with their leaders in efforts to mediate hostage releases or peace talks. His position, however, has drawn widespread criticism from some Nigerians who accuse him of defending criminals and undermining national security.
Security experts have also expressed mixed reactions. While some agree that negotiation could help de-escalate violence, others insist that classifying the armed groups as terrorists is necessary to ensure stronger legal action and international support in combating their activities.
Government officials have yet to respond directly to Gumi’s latest comments. However, in previous statements, the federal government maintained that it would continue to combine both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity.
Sheikh Gumi’s remarks come amid renewed calls for the government to re-evaluate its counter-insurgency strategy, as bandit attacks and abductions persist in parts of Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger States.
While his views remain controversial, Gumi insists that dialogue offers the best hope for restoring peace, warning that further alienation of the armed groups could deepen Nigeria’s security challenges.
