Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, has stated that many armed herdsmen involved in banditry continue with criminal activities because they rely on it as a means of financing their operations and sustaining themselves amid ongoing conflict with government forces.
Sheikh Gumi made the remarks during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) while speaking on the topic, “Ending Insecurity; Amnesty and Negotiation with Bandits.”
During the interview, the cleric argued that many herdsmen had experienced years of hardship, neglect and lack of government support, which, according to him, contributed to the current insecurity situation in parts of northern Nigeria.
He maintained that successive governments had failed to address the social and economic challenges facing pastoral communities or invest in programmes aimed at modernising their way of life.
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According to Sheikh Gumi, many of the affected herdsmen feel abandoned and excluded from government development efforts.
“Not one kobo of our Nigerian budget goes to them,” he stated while lamenting what he described as the absence of meaningful intervention for pastoral communities.
The cleric also claimed that many of the armed groups were not living luxurious lifestyles, contrary to popular assumptions. He said some of them survive under harsh conditions in remote areas and often lack access to basic amenities.
“They are not living in luxury. Sometimes they drink from the stream,” he said.
Speaking further on the reasons some groups remain involved in banditry, Gumi argued that the ongoing military pressure and armed confrontations with security forces had created a situation where the groups depend on criminal activities to finance their survival and resistance.
“If they leave banditry, they won’t have a source of financing for their war machine,” he stated during the interview.
“We are under pressure to fight the government. The government that has helicopters is bombarding us. So remove the pressure, the need for the money is there,” he added.
The comments have already begun generating reactions across political and security circles, particularly given the sensitive nature of insecurity and banditry in Nigeria.
For years, armed bandit groups have carried out attacks, kidnappings and killings across several northern states, leading to widespread displacement of communities and heightened security concerns. Successive governments have adopted a combination of military operations, dialogue initiatives and community engagement efforts in attempts to curb the violence.
Gumi has previously advocated dialogue and negotiated settlements with armed groups, a position that has attracted both support and criticism from different sections of society. While some stakeholders believe negotiations could help reduce violence, others insist that criminal groups should face strict military and legal consequences.
Security analysts say the latest remarks are likely to reignite debates over the root causes of banditry, the role of poverty and marginalisation, and the effectiveness of existing counter-insurgency strategies in northern Nigeria.
As discussions continue, many Nigerians remain concerned about the persistent insecurity affecting several parts of the country and the urgent need for sustainable solutions to restore peace and stability.
