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Tag: Gumi

  • FG needs to engage bandits to ensure safety of schools – Gumi

    FG needs to engage bandits to ensure safety of schools – Gumi

    Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi has urged the federal government to engage bandits in order to guarantee security in schools.

    Gumi, who made the remarks in an interview with PUNCH, said aerial bombardments of bandits will only worsen the security situation at hand.

    “To secure schools, why not engage the bandits. Engage them; they are not many. You can count them with your fingers. How can you guard schools? It is not possible. In the whole north-west, they may not be more than 100,000 bandits. And that is just a drop in the ocean,” he said.

    “That is talking about those with weapons; because not all of them have weapons. Ninety per cent of those who have weapons use them to protect themselves against cattle rustlers.

    “They are victims too. Aerial bombardments will only worsen the situation because when you start killing their children, you remember they also have our children.”

    Speaking on the abducted Islamiyya students of Niger state, Gumi said he is still trying to “talk sense” to the abductors not to collect “dirty money” from the parents of the kidnapped students.

    “But we are trying to talk sense to them that these are just innocent schoolchildren. We don’t even have any idea of the condition of the children. We are just saying these are young children trying to study and they did nothing, so why are you trying to take dirty money from their families?

    “This (kidnap of Islamic pupils) actually proves to the nation that the bandits are not really indoctrinated, they are just looking for money and I think that this is a good prognosis.

    “They are not targeting a religion; they are not ideologues, which are difficult to deal with. We should not forget that they are not educated, formally or informally. They are just going about with cattle, and suddenly they found a lucrative way of finding money.”

  • Deadline: Greenfield students won’t be killed, talks ongoing to ensure their release – Gumi

    Deadline: Greenfield students won’t be killed, talks ongoing to ensure their release – Gumi

    Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has assured that the remaining students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna will soon regain their freedom from their captors.

    Gumi said negotiation was ongoing for the release of the students of the privately-owned university abducted by bandits on April 20, 2021.

    Few days after their abduction, five of the students were killed by the bandits while the leader of the bandits, Sani Jalingo, said the remaining students would be killed if the government or the parents failed to provide N100 million and 10 motorcycles for the bandits.

    Recall the deadline to kill the remaining students had lapsed since Wednesday.

    But on Thursday, Gumi while receiving the parents of the 27 Afaka students on a thank-you visit to his Kaduna residence, said the bandits had rescinded their decision to kill the students.

    He said, “The talk with the Greenfield University students’ abductors is also going on. you know they threatened to kill all of them after a particular deadline but after talking to them, they are now lowering their bar.

    “So, we thankful they have stopped killing. And we are still negotiating with them. I hope this Afaka case will also encourage to know that there is hope in negotiation and release the children.”

    While fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the visit, Gumi said the role he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo played were purely mediation roles, noting that fight was between the bandits and the government.

    He explained that the bandits while attacking the government, attacked government institutions and “innocent children.”

    Gumi said, “The role myself and former President Olusegun Obasanjo played in the release of the 27 Afaka students is the role of mediators because the fight is not between us and them but between the bandits and the government.

    “What we understand is that these people are trying to attack the government by attacking the government institutions and take innocent children.

    “Having understood that we came to the conclusion that this is not a hopeless situation and that we can really go in and negotiate for the release of these children, which we did after so many ups and downs.

    “But in the long run, a conclusion was reached and these children are out. So, we are happy that, all of them are out and none was killed.”

  • [Trending Video] How Gumi connected us to Fulani man; we paid N800k – Kidnapped student’s mother

    [Trending Video] How Gumi connected us to Fulani man; we paid N800k – Kidnapped student’s mother

    The mother of a student abducted at the college of forestry and mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, has spoken out about her efforts to secure her child’s release.

    Watch Video:

    Yesterday, there was a commotion in Abuja by the households, colleagues and loved ones of the other ones that are still in detention of the criminals.

    One of the parents described the attempts they have made to secure the release of their children in a video posted on Twitter by Roots TV.

    Recall the armed robbers kidnapped 39 students from the institution in March? The parents have been attempting to obtain their release since the kidnapping, but have been unsuccessful, which is why they are appealing to the government for assistance.

    The offenders have released 10 of the students, leaving 29 in their custody.

  • Pay bandits N100m Greenfield Student’ ransom before it’s too late, Gumi warns CBN

    Pay bandits N100m Greenfield Student’ ransom before it’s too late, Gumi warns CBN

    Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has urged the government not to take the threat by the kidnappers of students of Greenfield University, Kaduna lightly.

    He urged Central Bank of Nigeria should pay the N100m ransom being demanded by the kidnappers of the students.

    Recall that one of the bandits, Sani Jalingo, had on Monday in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America threatened to kill the abducted students except a ransom N100 million and 10 motorcycles was given to them.

    Gumi, according to a report published in The PUNCH (after a phone interview) lamented that his efforts, which had been yielding fruits, were not being appreciated by the government.

    He said: “The money they are asking for is too much; if I give you that money, you cannot run away with it.

    “Nobody can run. So, why not give them the money, they release the boys and then we pursue them and get our money back and do what is necessary; it is simple logic.

    “So, bring the money from the central bank.

    “How can they move that money?

    “We should not be stupid.

    “These people are getting infiltrated; Boko Haram is getting close and they don’t respect the clergy.

    “I need support to get them inoculated against the infiltration of these ideologies, whether Boko Haram or Ansaru, whatever it is.

    “We need to shield them because they are naïve.

    “If there is too much pressure on them, and they see help from Boko Haram, who are richer and have more weapons, it is going to consume everybody.”

  • Nigeria needs more Pantami’s in Power – Gumi

    Nigeria needs more Pantami’s in Power – Gumi

    Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has warned that Nigerians will regret it if the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami is removed from office.

    Nigerians had continually mounted pressure on the presidency to sack the minister while some called for his resignation following the re-emergence of his public declaration of support for terrorist groups in the past.

    But Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic preacher who had consistently called for negotiations with bandits stated that Pantami was not sympathetic towards terrorists, Peoples Gazette reported.

    Gumi, who was speaking in an interview with Roots TV said the embattled minister was rather a nation-builder who was working to attract other youths of his Ilk to support the government.

    He said “Show me one person he has killed. He has not killed anybody. He has not ordered the killing of anybody. The man is stabilising a government among a section of youths which we want them to come and join in nation-building.”

    Gumi also said Pantami was a victim of wicked campaigns to remove him from office.

    “And you people are fighting them. No. You should get more people like Pantami and put them in power. Don’t remove him. You’ll regret,” he warned.

  • Obasanjo, Gumi seek special courts for bandits, kidnappers

    Obasanjo, Gumi seek special courts for bandits, kidnappers

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and renowned Islamic Cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, have called for special courts to prosecute bandits and kidnappers across the country.

    They made the call in a communique issued after a closed-door meeting in Abeokuta on Sunday.

    They also called on the Local Government Councils, States and Federal Government to work together to return out-of-schools children to classes, adding that education remains key to tackling insecurity.

    They said that the special courts would cut the long bureaucracy in dealing promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.

    Obasanjo and Gumi added that security remained the responsibility of all Nigerians, saying “we must not advertently or inadvertently, in words, action or inaction encourage or support criminality”.
    The duo added that the hardened criminals must be hard hit with stick, saying unlawful carrying of arms should be seriously punished.
    They appealed to the Federal government to take up the issue of security within the Economic Community of West African States towards a regional solution.
    “Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against criminals.
    “There should be protection and reward covertly for whistle blowers against criminals living in the community.”
    They urged all well meaning Nigerians to support government in finding solutions to insecurity by desisting from blame game, ethnicising as well as regionalising these crimes.

    They advised the Federal government to be proactive, secure necessary and updated intelligence to deal with organised crimes as well as have common policy for the Nation.

    ”We concluded that to keep Nigeria safe and secure for all Nigerians and others living in Nigeria is a task that all well-meaning Nigerians must engage in separately and collectively.”

    The Gumi eight-man delegation include: Prof. Usman Yusuf, Tukur Mamu, Dr Umar Ardo, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi, Suleiman Gumi, Suleiman Yakubu and Buba Mohammed.

    Those present on the side of Obasanjo were Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta, Oba Babajide Bakre and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Ogun , Tunde Akin-Akinsanya.

    Other were Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sa’addallah Bamigbola and Former Chairman of the Police Equipment Fund, Kenny Martins.(

  • Insecurity: Take issue to ECOWAS, Obasanjo, Gumi advise Buhari

    Insecurity: Take issue to ECOWAS, Obasanjo, Gumi advise Buhari

    …insist 14m children out of school in the north must be re-integrated
    …Obj to continue discourse with Gumi in Kaduna soon
    By Emman Ovuakporie
    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Sheik Ahmad Gumi on Sunday advised President Muhammad Buhari to urgently take the issue of insecurity in Nigeria to ECOWAS to help solve it.
    To this end, TheNewsGuru. com, TNG reports that in a statement jointly signed by both patriots when Gumi visited Obasanjo in Ogun State advised Buhari to approach ECOWAS to help Nigeria tackle the insecurity bedevilling the country.
    They equally called for the immediate reintegration of over 14m children out of school in the north as this is the root cause of insecurity in Nigeria.
    Read statement below :
    As part of his continued efforts to find solutions for the general insecurity in the country and particularly for the menace of banditry, kidnapping and ransom payment, Sheikh Gumi with a delegation of eight, as follows Prof. Usman Yusuf, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Dr. Umar Ardo, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Honourable Suleiman Gumi, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu and Mallam Buba Mohammed, visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State on April 4, 2021.
    Chief Obasanjo received Sheikh Gumi and his delegation in the presence of Oba Babajide Bakre, Agura of Gbagura, Abeokuta; Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, Chairman of Ogun State Christian Association of Nigeria; Sheikh Sa’addallah Alade Bamigbola, Chief Imam of Egbaland; Chief Kenny Martins, Chief Ola Babajide Jaiyeoba; Rev. Tony Ojeshina, Chief Imams of Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu and Mr. Vitalis Ortese.
    After exchange of pleasantries, Sheikh Gumi briefed Chief Obasanjo with other hosts on the measures and steps he had taken and spearheaded to stem the tide of insecurity and menace of banditry, kidnapping and ransom payment in many parts of the North.
    Questions and discussions ensued to clarify some statements credited to Sheikh Gumi on his well-intended mission in the past. After clarification of points by Sheikh Gumi, discussion centred on causes – remote and immediate -, effects and implications, actions and reactions by communities, local authorities, state governments, national government and governments of our neghbouring countries and countries within West Africa.
    After deep, frank and intimate discussions, the following points were arrived at and decided upon for appropriate actions as recommended:
    Chief Obasanjo commended Sheikh Gumi for his initiative and encouraged him not to relent in his efforts.
    Sheikh Gumi thanked Chief Obasanjo for his past services emphasising the special unifying efforts and attributes to the nation and for the warm welcome accorded his delegation.
    The menace of banditry, kidnapping, other crimes and atrocities leading to general insecurity is a nationwide phenomenon.
    We acknowledge that people from different parts of the country and outside the country are involved although some people are more predominantly involved than others.
    We must not advertently or inadvertently, in words, action or inaction encourage or support criminality.
    We acknowledge that the security situation has gone beyond tolerance; hence Sheik Gumi’s coming to Abeokuta to confer with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
    We identified the crisis as micro ethnic conflict between the Fulani and many host communities mainly in the North West.
    We identified the remote causes as educational and economic disparities, and the negative use of religion and ethnicity by unscrupulous politicians.
    Solutions must be seen and provided on short-, medium-, and long-term bases and must be composed of stick and carrot for the offender and the vulnerable.
    All well-meaning Nigerians have to be involved in finding solutions by:
    desisting from blame game;
    desisting from ethnicising these crimes;
    desisting from religionising these crimes;
    desisting from regionalising these crimes;
    respecting one another individually, community-wise, locally, ethnically, religiously and socially;
    showing tolerance and accommodation where necessary;
    condemning criminal acts no matter where it is committed and by whom it is committed in Nigeria;
    encouraging more of carrot solution as may be found necessary;
    sharing information at all levels;
    not accepting criminality as a way of life for any individual or group in our nation;
    Since the end of the civil war, the military are the strongest and most potent instrument and symbol of national unity that we have and we must keep them so.
    State governments must have adequate means of providing security for their people and as chief executives and chief security officers of their states, they must have the means at their disposal to ensure security for all within their states.
    Federal government must be proactive, secure necessary and updated intelligence to deal with organised crimes and have common policy for the nation. It is not solving the problem when one state goes for negotiation and molly-cuddling of criminals and another one goes for shooting them. Nor should one state go for ransom payment and another one going against.
    Education is one main key to solve the problem in the long run but it must start now. The 14 million children that should be in school and are out of school must be put in school with local authorities, state governments and federal government working together.
    Wean those who are ready to be weaned out of the bushes and crime, settle and rehabilitate them, give them skills, empower them and let them have employment.
    The hardened criminals must be hard hit with stick. Unlawful carrying of arms should be very seriously punished.
    Federal government should take the issue up seriously within ECOWAS to work for a regional solution.
    Every community must be encouraged and empowered to stand firm and strong against criminals.
    There should be protection and reward covertly for whistle blowers against criminals living in the community.
    Special courts should be created to deal promptly with cases of banditry, kidnapping, ransom demanding and unlawful carrying of weapons.
    Let the slogan be: Security is the responsibility of all Nigerians.
    We agree to continue to work together for solutions for the security of Nigeria and to seek others to join us as we widely circulate our joint statement. To this end, Sheik Gumi has extended an invitation to Chief Obasanjo to visit Kaduna with a view to continuing the discourse started today and Chief Obasanjo has graciously accepted.
    We conclude that to keep Nigeria safe and secure for all Nigerians and others living in Nigeria is a task that all well-meaning Nigerians must engage in, separately and collectively. Both of us resolve that we would not relent in our efforts. The delegations on both sides acceded to this statement. We agree to meet again in due course to re-examine progress and situation of security in Nigeria.
    _____________________ __________________________
    Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi
  • Obasanjo hosts Gumi in Abeokuta, propose solutions to banditry, other security challenges

    Obasanjo hosts Gumi in Abeokuta, propose solutions to banditry, other security challenges

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, met on Sunday to discuss and propose possible solutions to the security challenges in Nigeria.

    The meeting, which held at the residence of the former president in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was part of efforts to find solutions to the menace of banditry, kidnapping, and payment of ransom, among other security threats in the land.

    After the exchange of pleasantries, Gumi briefed Obasanjo on measures and steps he had taken to stem the tide of insecurity in many parts of the North.

    Discussions centred on the causes, effects and implications of the various security threats, as well as the reactions by communities, local authorities, state governments, and the Federal Government, as well as authorities in neighbouring countries and nations within West Africa.

    In their resolution, Obasanjo and Gumi agreed that banditry, kidnapping, and other crimes that have led to general insecurity were a nationwide phenomenon.

    They acknowledged that people from various parts of the country and outside Nigeria were involved, although some people were more predominantly involved than others.

    The elder statesman and the Islamic scholar appealed to authorities and the people not to encourage or support criminality, noting that the security situation in the country has gone beyond tolerance.

    They identified the crisis as a micro-ethnic conflict between the Fulani and many host communities mainly in the North West, saying its remote causes were educational and economic disparities, as well as the negative use of religion and ethnicity by deceitful politicians.

    On how to tackle the menace, Obasanjo and Gumi stressed the need for the people, irrespective of their affiliation, to desist from blame game, as well as attributing ethnicity, religion, and region to crimes committed by criminals.

    They also called on the people to respect one another, show tolerance and accommodation where necessary, as well as condemn criminal acts no matter where it was committed and by whom it was committed.

    According to them, encouraging more carrot solution as may be found necessary, sharing information at all levels, and not accepting criminality as a way of life for any individual or group in the country, are part of the solutions to insecurity in the land.

  • Nigerian Army sends strong warnings to Gumi over religious profiling of soldiers

    Nigerian Army sends strong warnings to Gumi over religious profiling of soldiers

    The Nigerian Army has cautioned controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, not to drag the image of the Service to disrepute.

    The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, in a statement, warned the Islamic cleric and others to show restraint on the way to malign the image of the Nigerian Army.

    He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video-clip showing the renowned and respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits.

    “In the video clip, the Islamic scholar was seen telling the bandits that the soldiers involved in most attacks against them were non-Muslims. He further stated that they should be aware that soldiers are divided into Muslims and non- Muslims.

    “While the Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the the respected Sheik Ahmed Gumi, it is however important to restate that the Nigerian Army as national institution does not deploy its troops along ethnic or religious lines.

    “Therefore Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute”.

    It added: “The Nigerian Army remains the pride of the nation and has continually defended the territorial integrity of this great nation.

    “Comments suggesting to mudslide the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army are not only inimical but tended towards creating bad blood amongst Nigerians.

    “Furthermore, most operations conducted by the Nigerian Army were done in strict adherence to rules of engagement, code of conduct and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry without any exception

    “It is therefore, disturbing that an opinion leader would deliberately want to disparage the Nigeria Army to portray it in bad light.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to seize this opportunity to advise opinion leaders to be more courteous while expressing their views, taking into cognisance the imperative for national security, particularly at these difficult times when our gallant troops have redoubled their efforts to tackle the myriads of security challenges facing our dear nation.

    “What our troops need now is public support to discharge their responsibility effectively and in the most professional manner”.

  • Don’t push Nigeria into war with your reckless comments, Fani-Kayode warns Gumi

    Don’t push Nigeria into war with your reckless comments, Fani-Kayode warns Gumi

    Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has warned popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi not to push Nigeria into war with his reckless commentary.

    Fani-Kayode was reacting to comments attributed to Gumi when he said “If coup plotters are pardoned, why not bandits?”

    Fani-Kayode said “Maybe we should give Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, King Leopard 11 of Belgium, Osama Bin Ladin, Al Bagdadi, Abubakar Shekau and every other mass murderer and genocidal maniac in world history a posthumous pardon too!

    “First he urges the terrorists to target Christian soldiers, then he said that the kidnapping of children from their schools by the same terrorists was a lesser evil and now he says this.

    “Has Sheik Ahmad Gumi finally lost his mind. Is he in desperate need of medical attention Has he become the official spokesman for the terrorists that are slaughtering, tormenting, raping, mutilating and kidnapping our people all over the country?”

    Fani-Kayode said he was convinced that Gumi is no longer himself and that something had gone wrong with him.

    “He is shrouded in darkness and deceit. Someone please tell him that we have had enough of these asinine, puerile, infantile, insensitive, uncharitable, wicked, dangerous and self-serving contributions and remarks

    ”The country is already on the brink of war and fratricidal butchery: Gumi should not push us into it with his reckless provocations and deeply insensitive, callous, heartbreaking and insulting commentary,” he added.

    He said the terrorists Gumi is defending were a living manifestation of pure and unadulterated evil and that every single one of them deserved to be eliminated or brought to justice in a court of law for their crimes against humanity.

    “Gumi, stop pampering blood-thirsty and blood-lusting psychopaths and murderers. Anyone that targets innocent and defenceless women and children and kills them is the scum of the earth and deserves to be sent to hell in a glorious hail of bullets,” he said.