Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has renewed his call for a non-violent approach to tackling banditry in Nigeria, proposing that credible Islamic scholars be deployed to forests to engage armed groups through religious education.
Gumi made the proposal in a statement published on Wednesday, arguing that sustained engagement with bandits could help discourage violence and persuade members of the groups to abandon criminal activities.
He said credible scholars could teach the armed groups about the sanctity of human life, the protection of property and Islam’s prohibition of killing and oppression.
According to the cleric, more systematic deployment of Islamic scholars to engage bandits could have produced greater results since he began advocating dialogue with the groups.
Gumi’s argument
Gumi argued that some members of the armed groups were influenced by ignorance, deprivation and social neglect, and said religious education could be used as part of a broader strategy to address the crisis.
He has consistently advocated dialogue and non-kinetic approaches to banditry, although his position has attracted debate over how such engagement should be conducted alongside conventional security operations.
The cleric’s latest proposal specifically focuses on the North-West and North-Central regions, where bandit attacks, kidnapping and rural insecurity have remained major concerns.
Security response remains broader
Gumi’s proposal represents one approach to the security crisis rather than an announced government policy.
Nigeria’s security agencies continue to rely on military and law-enforcement operations against armed groups, while authorities have also pursued measures involving intelligence, community engagement and development.
The debate over dialogue with armed groups remains contentious, particularly because of concerns over accountability and the safety of communities affected by banditry.
Gumi’s latest intervention therefore adds religious engagement to the continuing national debate over how Nigeria can reduce attacks and persuade armed groups to abandon violence.