Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi has strongly denied any links to banditry or terrorism, insisting he remains committed to Nigeria’s unity and would never back any agenda that harms the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, May 25, 2026, Gumi accused “ethnic-interest groups” and sensational online content creators of deliberately distorting his advocacy for a non-kinetic approach to insecurity.
“I have no other country but Nigeria, so I will not support anything that will lead to its destruction. I will never support terrorists to destroy the country,” he declared.
Gumi defended his long-standing position that military force alone cannot end the banditry and insurgency plaguing northern states.
He noted that since the killing of Boko Haram’s leader in 2009, reliance on kinetic operations has failed to contain the spread of violence across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and other states.
He criticised past peace initiatives in states like Katsina and Zamfara for focusing mainly on cash payments to bandits without tackling underlying issues.
Instead, Gumi called for a comprehensive rehabilitation programme that includes genuine dialogue, removing armed groups from forest hideouts, educating their children, and implementing structured amnesty with proper confidence-building measures.
“These people told us they are ready to lay down their arms, but what are their conditions? Has anybody listened to them?” he asked.
The cleric highlighted the fear many bandits harbour that they could be arrested or attacked after surrendering and stressed that addressing these concerns is essential for any peace process to work.
He drew parallels with the successful reintegration of thousands of repentant Boko Haram members, suggesting a similar model could be effective for bandits.
Gumi also emphasised the need for moral reforms in governance, condemning corruption and warning that public officials must not be seen enriching themselves while fighting crime.
“We need sanity in governance. Crime is crime,” he said.In a separate statement issued on May 23, 2026, Gumi rejected all video clips, statements, or messages attributed to him that suggest support for banditry or terrorism, describing such materials as “fake, manipulated and doctored.”
He warned that those circulating falsehoods about him risk legal action.The cleric expressed confidence that Nigeria can overcome its security challenges through collective efforts focused on tackling poverty, ignorance, and social injustice.
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