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7 years of force has failed, try amnesty for bandits — Gumi tells FG

Published

3 months ago

May 26, 2026

Keep Religion Out of Nigeria's 'Dirty Politics,' Gumi Tells Jingir

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi

7 years of force has failed, try amnesty for bandits — Gumi tells FG

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi has called on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to armed bandits, arguing that Nigeria should adopt the same rehabilitation and reintegration approach used for repentant Boko Haram members who surrendered to the military.

Speaking during a press conference at his residence in Kaduna on Monday, May 25, 2026, Gumi said Nigeria’s prolonged reliance on military force had failed to end banditry and insurgency after nearly two decades. The cleric questioned the effectiveness of the government’s continued reliance on a kinetic approach, noting that the country had spent years battling insecurity without lasting success since the Boko Haram insurgency escalated in 2009.

“If the kinetic approach is not working for 17 years, why don’t you change the approach? Let’s change the method,” Gumi said.

Gumi argued that previous attempts at negotiation in states such as Katsina and Zamfara failed because authorities focused mainly on financial settlements without establishing long-term rehabilitation programmes. “Because what Katsina did is to bring the bandits, give them money, and let them go. Why don’t we change the method? Let’s engage them,” he said.

The cleric proposed a broader strategy centred on dialogue, rehabilitation, education and amnesty for repentant bandits willing to surrender their weapons. He called for a comprehensive approach that would involve removing armed groups from forests, educating their children, and creating sustainable rehabilitation programmes. “Let’s dislodge them from the forest. Let’s take their children and put them in school. Let’s do something different,” Gumi said.

The cleric argued that relying solely on military operations would not end insecurity, claiming that several military officers had privately admitted that force accounts for only a fraction of the solution. “The kinetic approach is just about 25 percent of solving this kind of problem,” he stated, calling for government action to address poverty, ignorance and social injustice, which he described as root causes of violence.

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According to Gumi, some bandits have expressed willingness to lay down their arms if they are guaranteed protection from arrest or retaliation after surrendering. “These people told us they are ready to lay down their arms, but what are their conditions? Has anybody listened to them?” he queried. He said many fighters fear arrest or reprisals if they surrender, insisting that a structured amnesty programme would encourage more militants to disarm voluntarily.

“They said they fear when they lay down arms, they will then be pursued and arrested. So give them the amnesty so that they don’t need to fear putting down their arms,” Gumi said. Drawing parallels with the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members, he maintained that similar measures could produce better results than years of military confrontation. “From the number of Boko Haram repentants, which are in thousands, you can see that the same approach can be applied to the bandits,” he stated.

Gumi also used the briefing to deny allegations that he supports terrorism or violent groups, accusing what he described as “ethnic-interest groups,” individuals driven by prejudice, and online content creators of deliberately twisting his public comments and media interviews to portray him as a supporter of insecurity.

“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo, suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry or terrorism in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me,” he declared. The cleric warned that anyone circulating “fake, manipulated and doctored materials” against him would face legal action, stating that such falsehoods are being spread to attract viewership at the expense of human suffering and sacrifice.

“I have no association with insecurity in Nigeria. On the contrary, I am a peaceful citizen who loves this country more than anything,” he said. Defending his controversial meetings with bandits in the past, he said the engagements were carried out with the knowledge of authorities and were intended to persuade fighters to surrender their weapons. “I made them swear before God that they would stop stealing, stop killing and lay down their arms, and some of them did,” he said.

The cleric linked insecurity to poverty, social injustice and corruption, urging leaders to pursue reforms capable of addressing the root causes of violence. “We need sanity in governance. We don’t want to hear stories of government officials swallowing billions of naira while talking about fighting criminals. Crime is crime,” he said.

He expressed hope that Nigeria would eventually overcome insecurity through collective efforts aimed at addressing poverty, ignorance and social injustice, which he identified as underlying drivers of violence. “I sincerely hope that our great nation will heal, and that all victims affected by this violence will find comfort in the collective determination of the nation and the international community to achieve a lasting solution to the insecurity fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice,” he added.

Gumi has repeatedly canvassed amnesty for bandits over the years. In 2021, he argued that if those involved in Nigeria’s civil war and past military coups were pardoned, repentant bandits should also be considered for forgiveness. His position has remained controversial, with critics arguing that granting blanket amnesty could embolden criminal groups and undermine justice for victims of terrorism and banditry.

7 years of force has failed, try amnesty for bandits — Gumi tells FG

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600 Women, Children, Elderly Abducted in Niger Mosque Attack

Published

9 hours ago

August 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago

600 Women, Children, Elderly Abducted in Niger Mosque Attack

An armed group has released a harrowing video showing what residents say are about 600 women, children, and elderly people abducted during a coordinated attack on a mosque in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, as authorities struggle to verify the scale of the mass kidnapping.

NIGER STATE, Nigeria – An armed group has released a harrowing video showing what residents say are approximately 600 women, children, and elderly people abducted in a brazen attack on worshippers at a mosque in Dekara village, Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State. The footage, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp on Sunday, shows large groups of people seated in a forested area surrounded by armed men, with the cries of children audible in the background. The attack occurred on Friday, August 21, 2026, when suspected terrorists stormed the Kpenya Mosque during Juma’at (Friday) prayers at about 2 p.m. Residents reported that the attackers carried out simultaneous raids on several communities in the Borgu area, including Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida, and Gidan-Zana, taking worshippers from multiple mosques. Among those abducted were the village head of Ka’ada, who had only recently been released from a previous kidnapping, and the 90-year-old father of the District Head of Dekara.

In the video, a gunman speaking in Hausa addressed the families of the captives, urging them to identify their relatives among those shown. “These are all your people. We are showing you this video so that you can identify your family members, your fathers, mothers, children and relatives,” the gunman said. Resident Jamilu Ibrahim appealed to federal and state authorities to secure the release of the captives, highlighting the presence of mothers with infants and children among those shown in the footage. Another resident, Ismaila Yahaya, confirmed that among those kidnapped was the village head of Ka’ada, who had been released from a recent kidnapping, and that all those attending the central mosque in Dekara were taken away.

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Authorities have struggled to verify the exact number of abductees. The Niger State Government, through Information Commissioner Mr. Obed Nuhu Nana, acknowledged that the number of persons abducted and other details are still being verified. The government urged the public to refrain from circulating unverified reports that could heighten anxiety or compromise ongoing security efforts. Police had earlier confirmed an attack on worshippers in the area but said they could not verify the number of people abducted. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said the attackers stormed the Kpenya Mosque at about 2 p.m. on Friday after previously attacking Gidan-Zana and Kpenya villages. He noted that joint security forces had been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations.

Initial reports gave substantially lower estimates: some local residents told Reuters that more than 60 worshippers were kidnapped, while the Borgu area council chairman put the figure at at least 60, and another local leader told the Associated Press that about 80 people had been abducted from affected communities. However, a resident of Dekara told Daily Trust that in Gbezhin, one of the communities in Dekara District, no fewer than 100 people were still missing as of Sunday. The terrorists themselves have claimed, in the video, that about 600 people are in their custody.

Mass kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in parts of north-western and north-central Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target villages, schools and highways. This incident is among the largest mass abductions in recent months and has raised alarm about the deteriorating security situation in Niger State, which has increasingly become a hotspot for banditry and terrorist activities. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted victims.

The attack also comes amid heightened security alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, which had warned of possible attacks in several northern states including Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara. The embassy had advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to these areas, citing increased risk of kidnappings and terrorist activities.

600 Women, Children, Elderly Abducted in Niger Mosque Attack

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Flood Submerges Homes, Destroys Property Worth Millions in Akwa Ibom Communities

Published

9 hours ago

August 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Flood Submerges Homes, Destroys Property Worth Millions in Akwa Ibom Communities

Hundreds of residents of Eket Local Government Area have been left stranded and counting losses after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding, submerging homes, destroying property worth millions of naira, collapsing buildings, and forcing families to flee for safety, with many worshippers also prevented from attending Sunday services.

AKWA IBOM, Nigeria – A devastating flood has ravaged Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, submerging homes, destroying property worth millions of naira, and leaving hundreds of residents stranded following three days of torrential rainfall. The heavy downpour, which began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday, overwhelmed drainage systems across the oil-producing city, turning residential areas into virtual rivers and forcing many families to flee for safety. The Southern Examiner newspaper reported that the flooding destroyed properties worth hundreds of millions of naira, swept away vehicles, collapsed houses, and rendered thousands of residents homeless. Several roads and streets were cut off, while residents of affected communities were forced to seek refuge in safer locations as floodwaters overwhelmed homes, business premises and other facilities. Along Afaha-Eket Road, residents were still busy bailing out water from their houses and trying to rescue badly soaked clothing on Sunday morning.

Mrs Elizabeth Akpan, a housewife residing on Mkpok Lane, expressed distress after floodwater submerged her home and destroyed her belongings. The disaster occurred after rainfall lasting more than four hours from Saturday night into Sunday, destroying her electronics, kitchen utensils and other household items. “Flood has destroyed my property worth millions of naira due to the heavy downpour that started yesterday and today,” she cried. Akpan appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently come to her rescue. “Flood has taken over my entire building. I need help from the relevant emergency agencies before the situation becomes worse,” she said. Another resident, Mrs Mfonobong Bassey of Edem Udoh Street, said floodwater soaked her beddings and destroyed electronics in her sitting room. “My children and I have been scooping water from our rooms, kitchen, toilet and bathroom since 4 a.m. Flood has submerged my house and soaked the sitting room. God, come and save me and my children from this calamity,” she cried.

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The flooding has caused widespread destruction, with reports confirming that some buildings collapsed during the disaster. Unlike the flood disasters of May 2025, communities completely ravaged by this latest menace include Afaha-Eket, Uqua, Ikot Udoma, Idua, and Afaha Uqua. Mr Paul Idongesit, a resident of Idua Road, said the flood collapsed his building and destroyed his late wife’s grave. The Southern Examiner also reported that a 70-year-old widow, Mary Monday Peter, narrowly escaped death when floodwaters overwhelmed her home in Ikot Usoekong, Eket LGA—she fled the building just before it gave way, leaving her homeless and without any opportunity to salvage her belongings. Several roads and streets were cut off, while residents of some affected communities were forced to seek refuge in safer locations as floodwaters overwhelmed homes, business premises and other facilities. The two-day downpour also prevented hundreds of worshippers from attending their church services on Sunday.

Areas affected include Ediam Road, Edohoeket Street, Idua Road, Afaha Eket Road, All Weather Road, Ikot Udoma, Mkpok Lane, and Eket-Oron Road. Other communities severely affected include Uqua and Afaha Uqua. The flooding submerged roads, destroyed farmlands, and left several families displaced. Mr Promise Friday, a businessman, said floodwater destroyed more than 80 bags of POP materials and cement purchased for his building project, along with other belongings in his apartment, leaving him with significant financial losses. The flooding also reportedly swept away vehicles and destroyed household items and other property worth millions of naira across the neighbourhood.

Affected residents have appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government, NEMA, SEMA, and other relevant authorities to intervene urgently. Mr Paul Idongesit urged the state government to construct larger drainage channels and culverts to reduce flooding and its impacts, while also appealing to the World Bank and other development partners for assistance. The Ekid Development Forum (EDF) attributed the severity of the flooding partly to poor waste management, indiscriminate refuse disposal, defective drainage systems, poor execution of some road projects, and alleged government negligence in environmental management. EDF Vice-President, Mkpisong Francis Odoro, identified indiscriminate waste disposal, poor workmanship by some road contractors, and inadequate government intervention as major factors contributing to the recurring flooding in Eket. “There is no tangible comprehensive waste disposal system in Eket Local Government. Residents dispose of waste randomly and carelessly because no government policy and legislation effectively controls waste management,” Odoro said. He also criticised what he described as poor workmanship by some indigenous contractors executing road projects in the area.

The Chairman of Eket Local Government Area, Mr Akaninyene Tommy, accompanied by officials of NEMA, inspected the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage. Tommy described the flooding as devastating and heartbreaking. “The flood is deeply distressing. Homes have been ravaged, properties damaged, and families left to bear the painful consequences,” Tommy said. He said the council visited affected areas to see the situation firsthand, listen to residents, and assess the extent of the damage. “What we witnessed was heartbreaking, and we recognise the urgency of the situation,” the chairman said. Tommy said the council was engaging NEMA and SEMA, while detailed assessments of affected areas were being compiled for submission to relevant authorities to facilitate timely intervention and support for affected families. He assured affected residents of government palliatives to cushion the immediate impact of the disaster. “We will continue to stand firmly with our people and do everything within our capacity to ensure no affected family is left behind,” Tommy said. He also appreciated individuals who had offered support, comfort and solidarity to residents affected by the flooding, adding that every gesture of kindness and solidarity matters and none will go unnoticed.

The flooding in Eket comes after the Federal Ministry of Environment placed Eket, Uyo and Oron among communities on critical flood alert between August 2 and August 15, 2026. The government had warned that 944 communities across 21 states could experience severe flooding triggered by a combination of persistent rainfall, rising river levels, saturated soils, rapid surface runoff and overwhelmed drainage systems. Eket recorded a flood-risk score of 90 to 100 out of 100 in the assessment, placing it in the critical risk category.

Flood Submerges Homes, Destroys Property Worth Millions in Akwa Ibom Communities

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Police vow to arrest killers of 10 officers slain in Kebbi gun battle

Published

9 hours ago

August 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Police vow to arrest killers of 10 officers slain in Kebbi gun battle

The Nigeria Police Force has intensified efforts to track down the armed criminals responsible for the killing of 10 police officers in Kebbi State, assuring the families of the fallen personnel that the Force will not relent until those behind the attack are brought to justice.

The officers, who were serving with the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and other tactical formations, were killed on August 10, 2026, during a fierce encounter with suspected bandits along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

According to the police, the confrontation began at about 9:25 a.m. when security operatives intercepted a heavily armed group reportedly moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states.

The encounter developed into a prolonged exchange of gunfire, resulting in the deaths of 10 police officers. Two other officers were injured, while two civilians were also killed during the incident.

The police, however, said the operation inflicted significant casualties on the attackers. According to the Force, 17 suspected bandits were neutralised, while four motorcycles used by the group were destroyed.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, expressed grief over the deaths and described the fallen personnel as officers who paid the ultimate price while performing their constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.

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Disu assured the families and colleagues of the deceased officers that their sacrifice would not be forgotten and pledged that the police would pursue those responsible for the attack.

“We shall not be intimidated, we shall not relent, and we shall not allow the sacrifices of our fallen heroes to be in vain,” the IGP said.

The police leadership also moved to strengthen security operations in the affected communities following the attack. A delegation led by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Umar Shehu Nadada visited Kebbi State to engage the state government and assess measures required to prevent further attacks.

During the visit, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris expressed condolences over the death of the officers and pledged government support for their families.

The governor also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting security agencies in their efforts to protect communities and counter banditry and other violent crimes.

The police delegation assured the state government that operations would be intensified to identify, track and apprehend members of the criminal group responsible for the attack.

As part of efforts to improve security in the state, the police also announced plans to establish a police squadron in Kebbi. The proposed formation is expected to increase police presence and strengthen the Force’s capacity to respond to security threats, particularly in vulnerable areas.

The deadly confrontation has once again highlighted the security challenges along the Kebbi-Zamfara axis, where armed groups have continued to exploit remote communities and difficult terrain.

The police have vowed to sustain operations in the affected area and prevent the attackers from regrouping after the encounter.

The Force also stressed the importance of cooperation between security agencies, state governments and local communities, particularly through timely intelligence sharing that could help security personnel detect and disrupt criminal activities.

For the families of the 10 officers killed in the line of duty, the incident represents a devastating loss. For the Police Force, the deaths have reinforced its determination to confront armed criminal groups and protect communities across the country.

The IGP maintained that the police would continue to pursue the perpetrators and ensure that those responsible for attacks on security personnel and civilians are brought to justice.