Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has revealed that some bandits told him they continued killing because they feared they would be killed if they stopped.
Speaking during an interview on PAP News on Friday, Gumi called for an end to the violence, urging those involved to embrace dialogue and reconciliation.
During the interview, he was asked why ordinary Nigerians were the main targets of kidnappings, killings and extortion, while politicians and military personnel appeared to be spared.
Responding, Gumi said he had raised the same question with the bandits and asked why they attacked women during military operations and why vigilantes arrested and killed them.
He described the situation as a cycle of violence driven by revenge and attacks from both sides.
“So they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counter. So we as clergy, our own duty is to say, let’s stop the bloodshed.
Let’s come to terms. It’s too much.
Gumi said the bandits were also unhappy with the situation and claimed they told him they felt trapped in the violence because stopping could cost them their lives.
“They too are not happy. And they told me, ‘We are forced to do it’ And they say because if they stop, they will be k+lled. So we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be killed,” he said.
On claims that bandits were receiving sponsorship, the cleric said such a possibility could not be ruled out. He questioned what happened to the millions of naira collected as ransom from victims.
It’s possible now, you know, it’s possible now because all those millions of naira being given to them as ransom, where do they go to? They buy weapons, more,” he said.
Gumi also described the illegal arms trade as a black market, comparing it to the drug trade. He alleged that foreign intelligence suppliers were involved in providing weapons to the bandits.
“It’s a black market, like drugs. It’s a black market. If you just have the money, you get them. And their suppliers are foreign intelligence, they definitely have a hand in it”
