Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed that some bandits he engaged with expressed weariness over ongoing bloodshed in Nigeria, claiming they feel compelled to continue attacks out of revenge and fear of execution if they lay down their arms.
Gumi made the disclosures during an interview on PAPShow, published on October 29, clips of which went viral across social media on Tuesday.
According to the cleric, one of the armed commanders he spoke with admitted that the level of violence in the region had escalated beyond measure.
“One of the bandits was telling us the bloodshed is too much,” Gumi said. “They, too, are not happy. And they say they are forced to do it.”
Cycle of Revenge and Fear of Betrayal
Explaining the grievances raised by the gunmen, Gumi noted that the bandits cited retaliatory motives, alleging that early security operations and local vigilante raids targeting cattle rustling resulted in the deaths of women and children in their communities.
“So, they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counterattack,” Gumi explained.
When asked why the armed groups could not simply surrender, the cleric stated that deep-seated mistrust prevents them from disarming.
“Because they thought they [would be] killed. So, we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be killed,” he added, maintaining that religious leaders must step in to facilitate dialogue between the warring factions and government authorities.
Arms Race and Unsubstantiated Foreign Claims
Addressing how the groups sustain their operations, Gumi described an active arms race among rival factions competing for superior firepower through black-market channels.
“It’s a black market, like drugs. If you just have the money, you get them,” Gumi said, adding that rival camps purchase heavy weaponry to intimidate one another.
The cleric also alleged possible external interference in the proliferation of arms across the North-West, claiming without offering evidence that foreign intelligence entities and interested foreign nations could potentially be fueling the conflict.
Banditry remains one of Northern Nigeria’s most severe security challenges, marked by mass kidnappings, village raids, and killings. While Gumi has consistently advocated for amnesty and non-kinetic negotiations with the armed groups, his stance continues to face strong backlash from critics who argue that negotiating with bandits undermines accountability and justice for victims.
