School Kidnappings ‘Lesser Evil’ Than Soldier Attacks – Sheikh Gumi

School Kidnappings ‘Lesser Evil’ Than Soldier Attacks – Sheikh Gumi

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended his previous engagements with armed groups in Nigeria, reiterating that while the abduction of schoolchildren is unacceptable, it is a “lesser evil” compared to attacks on Nigerian soldiers.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Gumi addressed his controversial 2021 statements and allegations of maintaining links with bandits. “Saying kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing soldiers, definitely it is lesser. But all of them are evil. All evils are not the same,” he said.

Gumi denied any contact with bandits since 2021, insisting his past efforts were conducted openly with the knowledge of security agencies and local authorities. “It was in 2021 when I was trying to see how we could bring them together. But the federal government was not interested. They declared them terrorists and since then we disengaged totally,” he added.

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He described the armed groups destabilising northwest Nigeria—and increasingly parts of the southwest—as predominantly Fulani herdsmen engaged in what he termed an “existential war” to protect their traditional livelihoods. Gumi argued that pressures on grazing routes have driven many into violent conflict.

The cleric also criticised the Nigerian military’s ability to defeat bandit groups through force alone, stressing that the country’s worsening insecurity requires a combination of political solutions, community engagement, and negotiated interventions. “Even the military says that in dealing with this civil unrest and criminality, only 25% is kinetic action; the rest depends on the government, politics, and local communities. The military cannot do everything,” he said.

Gumi’s comments come amid a resurgence of mass abductions in Kebbi and Niger states, raising concerns about the safety of children and the effectiveness of military operations against guerrilla-style attacks.

Critics have accused him of emboldening criminals and undermining state authority, claims he continues to reject, emphasising that dialogue and political measures are essential to restoring peace and security in affected regions.

School Kidnappings ‘Lesser Evil’ Than Soldier Attacks – Sheikh Gumi