Sheikh Gumi Urges Nigeria to Engage in Dialogue with Bandits, Advocating a Novel Approach to National Security

In a bold and paradigm-shifting declaration, Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic scholar hailing from Kaduna, has emphatically called for a revolutionary overhaul in Nigeria’s strategy to combat the persistent scourges of banditry and terrorism.

During an exclusive interview with Trust TV on Friday, Mr Gumi fervently advocated for a shift in the country’s security strategy, from armed conflict to dialogue and engagement with non-state actors causing turmoil. 

He criticized the government’s excessive spending on military interventions, which he deemed futile, and instead advocated for unconventional dialogue. 

He emphasized the need for a restructuring of Nigeria’s security apparatus, with a focus on empowering the police force and redirecting resources towards visionary policies and community-driven policing initiatives.

Mr Gumi’s vision extended beyond conflict resolution to comprehensive societal transformation, including the construction of educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and marketplaces to offer a brighter future for those entrenched in conflict.

He challenged Nigeria to divest from antiquated methodologies and embrace a new era of dialogue and empowerment, inspiring the world to contemplate a more empathetic, forward-thinking approach to security challenges.

He stressed that the military should not fight against citizens and that jet fighters should not be used on them. 

He stated that the military should focus on external defence, while internal order should be maintained by the police force. 

He advocated for negotiating with non-state actors, building schools, hospitals, and markets for them, and developing internal security.

“This is not the first time such is happening. The military should fight the military. Tank by tank. Jet by jet. The military should be out of fighting insecurity. We are not fighting Cameroon or Togo.”

“And the jet fighters should not be used on citizens. I cannot imagine any American president, no matter how instructive, would use F16 to bombard Americans. Impossible. He would go down the next day.

“What we need are very good policies. Then stronger policing. That’s where our money should go. All those people should be involved in community policing.

“In every society, you have very good people and they are the majority. Nigerians are very humble people; very resilient and can sustain a lot of hardship. So I don’t see why good governance and good policing should be a big deal.

“All the money we spend on buying all these Second World War aeroplanes and artillery and jets to fight insurgency is an archaic way of dealing with this issue. And billions of naira are spent on that.

“Negotiate with these people. Build for their schools and hospitals. Let them have a future. Build for the markets. Even the people we call bandits, sometimes complain that they no longer have cattle markets because whenever they establish a market, it gets destroyed.

“So the military should be out of this picture completely. We are not fighting a foreign country. We should develop our internal security,” he added. 

Mr Gumi’s visionary plea transcends borders, igniting a global conversation about a more progressive, inclusive, and enduring resolution model.