Gumi defends bandits’ motives, says their attacks are acts of revenge

Gumi defends bandits’ motives, says their attacks are acts of revenge

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended the motives of bandits operating in northern Nigeria, claiming their violent acts stem from grievances and a desire for revenge rather than senseless aggression.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV monitored by SaharaReporters on Friday, Gumi argued that the armed groups commonly labeled as bandits are reacting to perceived injustices and past hostilities.

According to him, the Fulani herdsmen “do not attack people without any cause,” adding that their actions are often rooted in personal losses and retaliation.

“The former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, once went into the bush with a government delegation and met over 5,000 bandits. They were all complaining — some lost parents, others lost brothers, and some suffered from hostilities,” Gumi said.

While condemning the killings carried out by the bandits, he described them as “wrong and obnoxious,” insisting that the perpetrators act out of vengeance.

“Yes, they have killed, and it’s wrong to kill anybody innocent. This is absolutely an obnoxious thing to do. We don’t support that. But if you know their psychology, they are on a revenge mission,” he stated.

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Gumi, who has consistently called for dialogue and amnesty for the bandits, maintained that Fulani herdsmen have coexisted peacefully with other ethnic groups for generations. He blamed recent violence on accumulated injustices and government neglect.

“Everybody knows the herdsmen, especially the Fulani. We’ve lived with them for centuries. They don’t just attack people without any cause,” he emphasized.

The cleric urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritize reconciliation and rehabilitation over military action, saying the bandits are open to peace initiatives.

“What I think the government needs to do is bring them together in a holistic way to ensure peace. They are ready for that because if you call them for peace, they come,” he said.

Drawing a comparison, Gumi contrasted the bandits with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), alleging that IPOB rejects dialogue and pursues secession.

“It’s unlike IPOB. The government has been trying to dialogue with them; they still refuse. They are still pushing for a separate state. They are secessionists. But these people (bandits) are not secessionists; they want peace,” Gumi added.

Gumi defends bandits’ motives, says their attacks are acts of revenge