Popular Islamic scholar, Ahmad
Gumi has disclosed how the Nigerian government can stop banditry and the crimes
among herders.
Gumi said crimes among herders
can be stopped through education.
In a Facebook post, the
controversial Islamic scholar said the building of schools and encouraging
children of herdsmen to attend them would prevent banditry.
Gumi recalled how he encouraged
some herdsmen in the Janjala forest of Kagarko to take up education and
renounce banditry.
According to Gumi: “It’s
Education! In the package it means building schools for them and their children
to rehabilitate them and prevent their children from joining the banditry as a
way of life; it is called mopping out the pool from which criminals get their
foot soldiers.
“Seven months ago, in early
February, I was in Janjala forest of Kagarko to visit Herdsmen to encourage
them to resist and fight back against the bad eggs among them and also put the
foundation stone of a school/center for them.”
Gumi said the herdsmen accepted
his offer and a school was erected where their children received lessons.
The cleric said no fewer than 600
students were enrolled for classes.
He added: “Today, with the
roofing in place, they have moved into the school even without plaster, electrical
fittings, ceilings, tiles, and painting to continue their lessons.
“So far, about 600 students were
enrolled out of which 150 are married women.
“This is how a society is
transformed and redirected.
“They have now tested the
sweetness of knowledge and have seen the value of education. They cannot be
recruited any more to commit crimes as they are looking forward to a brighter
future of respect and dignity.”
Gumi noted that by erecting such
education centres across forests in the states, soon the “bad eggs” will have
no ‘justification’ for committing crimes.
“This is a practical example for
people to emulate and governments to listen to,” he said.
Some Northern states have been
under the attacks of bandits with several schools and religious centres been
the target.
States like Zamfara, Niger,
Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina states have been affected by the activities
of banditry.
Amid their activities, Gumi had
severally visited bandits in their camps with the aim of urging them to lay
down their arms.
Following his visit, Gumi had
urged the Federal Government to grant bandits amnesty.
Recently, the Islamic cleric had
appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Ministry of Nomadic Affairs.
Gumi said the ministry would
address the challenges surrounding herders.
He had pointed out that bandits
in the North are going nowhere.
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