Popular Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has denied supporting bandits, insisting he is involved only in peace efforts, as calls for his arrest grow amid a new wave of kidnappings across northern Nigeria that has forced school closures and triggered fresh security crackdowns by the Federal Government. He spoke during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.

Gumi rejected the calls for his arrest following the recent sentencing of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment and the government’s clampdown on Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Igboho. He said his engagement with armed groups does not amount to endorsement, describing his role as strictly humanitarian and centred on conflict resolution.

“I am absolutely a peacemaker. I don’t want bloodshed. Nigerians forget that our military men are dying too. We recently lost a Brigadier General because of a stalemate with Boko Haram,” he said. According to him, “These terrorists are supported by international interest groups who supply them logistics, weapons and intelligence. So, we are not fighting a ragtag group, we are fighting an international network.”

The cleric argued that some armed herders lacked any channel to express their grievances, pushing them into violent confrontations. “It is like a doctor explaining an illness. People accuse the doctor of supporting the sickness. Understanding their side is the only way to propose a cure,” he added.

He said dialogue remains the only sustainable approach to resolving the crisis, insisting military force alone cannot end the conflict. “Peace is still sweeter than war. Many of these fighters believe they are ready to die. We must show them the value of peace, education, hospitals and a better life. Their brutality is a sign of weakness, not strength,” he said.

On claims that insecurity in Nigeria is being fuelled by foreign networks, Gumi maintained that terrorist activity is not isolated from external interests. “Boko Haram, yes. There are professional, international interests involved, foreign bodies that supply them weapons and intelligence. The bandits, on the other hand, have more rudimentary weapons,” he stated.

He dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that Nigeria is witnessing genocide, calling it misleading. “There is no Christian-Muslim war in Nigeria. Anyone pushing that narrative is not telling the truth,” he said. He described Trump as uninformed, adding, “Trump is not to be taken seriously. He accused Nigeria before any investigation. America is after oil, both ours and Venezuela’s. Nigerians should not be excited about foreign interference.”

Responding to criticism around his visits to bandit camps, Gumi insisted he acted with the knowledge of the authorities. “People do not know the full story. I was invited by the Zamfara State Government to help negotiate peace. We went with police, officials and the press. We sat with them only to hear their grievances. Many who shout online do not know the context,” he said.

He also defended recent military withdrawals reported during some attacks. “A platoon of nine soldiers cannot fight 300 bandits. The military sometimes must tactically withdraw to avoid unnecessary deaths. The bigger issue is lack of air support and drones,” he said.

Gumi called for a structured amnesty programme similar to the Niger Delta model. “Amnesty helps you identify the fighters and give them reasons to drop arms. You cannot fight a ghost enemy forever. Many herders fear arrest if they surrender. We need real dialogue to address their grievances,” he said.

He proposed phased ranching supported by government infrastructure, adding, “We do not even have the resources to educate the young people already sitting peacefully with us. How then do we expect to ranch all the cattle in Nigeria? We must start with grazing routes and model ranches. If we create model ranches, herders will adopt them naturally.”

Gumi also warned against foreign military involvement. “American military intervention will worsen things. Boko Haram is sponsored from outside, but herders are local and driven by survival. We should resolve the herder crisis internally,” he said.

The cleric insisted that his interventions were not financially motivated. “If I wanted money, I would join politics. I was a military captain. I am a medical doctor. I am not jobless and I do not need money from this,” he said.

As pressure mounts over worsening insecurity and renewed calls for his arrest, Gumi maintained that his only interest is ending bloodshed and restoring peace in conflict-hit communities across the North.

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