Gumi Questions FG’s Refusal To Dialogue With Bandits, Boko Haram, Cites Niger Delta Precedent

Gumi Questions FG’s Refusal To Dialogue With Bandits, Boko Haram, Cites Niger Delta Precedent

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has questioned why the Federal Government has not adopted dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits, drawing comparisons with peace efforts that helped end militancy in the Niger Delta. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gumi recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo engaged Niger Delta militants through visits to their camps as part of efforts to restore peace in the region. According to him, those engagements paved the way for programmes that significantly reduced militancy in the oil-producing region, demonstrating that dialogue could be an effective tool in resolving conflicts that seemed intractable. “The former President Jonathan visited delta militants in the creeks, so also the former vice president Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants,” Gumi wrote, emphasising that the Nigerian government had successfully used engagement strategies in the past and could replicate such approaches in the current context. He wondered why a similar strategy has not been extended to armed groups operating in northern Nigeria, asking: “Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” , expressing frustration that those who advocate for dialogue are often met with public condemnation rather than constructive engagement.

Gumi has repeatedly advocated dialogue and rehabilitation as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the North-West and North-East, positioning himself as a bridge between armed groups and the government. Over the years, he has visited bandit camps, particularly in Zamfara State, arguing that negotiations can complement military operations in achieving lasting peace, and that a purely kinetic approach has failed to yield the desired results. He has consistently maintained that the approach used to address the Niger Delta crisis should also be considered in tackling insecurity in northern Nigeria, pointing to the amnesty programme as a successful model of conflict resolution. The cleric has previously criticised the Federal Government’s classification of bandits as terrorist organisations, warning that the move could escalate insecurity and eliminate opportunities for dialogue, effectively closing the door on peaceful resolution. According to Gumi, some bandit groups had previously shown a willingness to negotiate and should not have been labelled terrorists, as such designations push them further into criminality and make engagement nearly impossible. “We don’t want to push them into terror beyond what they are doing now because it can get worse,” Gumi said in a viral video, cautioning that the government’s approach could backfire. He argued that some bandits in Zamfara State had in the past apprehended members of Boko Haram and handed them over to security agencies, suggesting that not all armed groups were aligned with extremist ideologies. The cleric further lamented that the designation has effectively shut down channels for engagement between clerics and armed groups, stating that “the only door that is remaining is for us clergy to go in and negotiate with them; that is closed permanently” , leaving little room for alternative pathways to peace.

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His approach has remained controversial, drawing both praise and sharp criticism from various quarters of Nigerian society. While some have credited his interventions with facilitating the release of kidnapped victims, critics argue that engaging armed groups risks legitimising those responsible for killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes, potentially encouraging more criminal activity. The cleric has consistently denied supporting terrorism, insisting that his contacts with bandits and insurgents are solely aimed at ending violence through peaceful negotiations, and that his primary concern is the safety and well-being of ordinary Nigerians caught in the crossfire. In a statement issued in May 2026, Gumi expressed concern over what he described as persistent misrepresentation of his views, stating unequivocally that any suggestion of support for banditry or terrorism does not emanate from him, and urging the public to separate his advocacy for dialogue from endorsement of criminal activity.

The Federal Government introduced the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme in 2009 under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, marking a significant shift in how the state addressed the militancy crisis in the oil-producing region. The initiative, which was continued by former President Jonathan, encouraged thousands of militants to surrender their weapons in exchange for training, stipends and reintegration, contributing to a significant decline in attacks on oil facilities and restoring relative peace to the region after years of devastating conflict. Jonathan had previously visited militant camps in the Niger Delta while serving as vice president, saying the engagements helped lay the groundwork for the amnesty programme, and that direct interaction with the militants was essential to understanding their grievances and finding a path forward. According to former Niger Delta Minister Elder Godsday Orubebe, Jonathan undertook a perilous mission into the creeks, defying resistance from security chiefs who refused to allow the Vice President to visit the militants, demonstrating the political will required to pursue peace through unconventional means. Osinbajo also met militants, community leaders and traditional rulers during visits to the region as acting president in 2017, maintaining that dialogue should complement security operations in addressing the region’s challenges, and that the government must be willing to listen to all citizens regardless of their past actions. He defended the meetings, saying those in the region were Nigerian citizens with genuine grievances that deserved attention, and that ignoring their concerns would only perpetuate the cycle of violence.

Gumi has also called for a shift from a purely military approach to tackling insecurity, arguing that Nigeria has relied predominantly on military force since 2009, yet insecurity has continued to spread, indicating that the current strategy is not yielding the desired results. He advocated a broader rehabilitation framework involving engagement with armed groups, dislodging them from forests, enrolling their children in schools and creating pathways for surrender through amnesty arrangements, addressing the root causes of banditry rather than merely its symptoms. The cleric’s latest remarks add to the ongoing national debate over the most effective strategy for addressing the prolonged insurgency and widespread banditry affecting several northern states, with opinions sharply divided between those who favour military action and those who believe dialogue offers a viable alternative. While some stakeholders have advocated military action as the primary response, others have argued that dialogue and non-military measures could also play a role in ending the violence, pointing to the Niger Delta experience as evidence that engagement can work. As of the time of this report, the Federal Government had not issued an official response to Gumi’s latest comments, leaving the debate unresolved and the security situation in northern Nigeria continuing to deteriorate.

Gumi Questions FG’s Refusal To Dialogue With Bandits, Boko Haram, Cites Niger Delta Precedent