Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has asserted that the Nigerian military is incapable of defeating the country’s bandit groups solely through force, insisting that negotiations remain the only viable solution to escalating insecurity in the northwest and beyond.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Gumi argued that modern militaries worldwide struggle against guerrilla fighters and that Nigeria is no exception.
“But 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. Where have you ever seen the military defeat guerrilla fighters? Nowhere,” he said.
His comments come as President Bola Tinubu’s administration implements sweeping security reforms, including changes in military leadership and a nationwide security emergency aimed at dismantling violent groups responsible for kidnappings, extortion, and attacks in rural areas.
Addressing long-standing accusations that he maintains ties with bandit leaders, Gumi insisted he has had no contact with such groups since 2021, when the federal government formally designated them as terrorists.
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“I never went there alone. It was in 2021 when I was trying to see how we could bring them together. But unfortunately, the government at the time was not interested. They declared them terrorists, and since that time we have completely disengaged from all contact with them,” he said.
Despite public criticism suggesting his advocacy emboldens armed groups and undermines state authority, Gumi argued that negotiating with non-state actors is standard practice globally.
“When they say we don’t negotiate with terrorists, I don’t know where they got that from. It is not in the Bible, it is not in the Quran. America had an office negotiating with the Taliban in Qatar. Everyone negotiates with outlaws if it will stop bloodshed,” he said.
Gumi described the armed groups terrorising the northwest as largely Fulani herdsmen engaged in an “existential war” linked to threats to their traditional livelihoods.
“They want to exist. That is their life. They know where to graze and how to care for their cattle,” he added, noting that the conflict has evolved from local farmer–herder tensions into widespread criminality.
The cleric has previously faced widespread backlash for his controversial statements, including claims that kidnapping schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” compared with killing soldiers. Nevertheless, he maintains that dialogue remains the most pragmatic path to reducing bloodshed and restoring security in affected regions.
