To Stop Abductions, Sponsor Factional Bandits Against The ‘Ugly Ones’, Gumi Tells FG

Sheik Ahmad Gumi, a revered Islamic cleric, has recommended the Federal Government to back bandit splinter groups as a means of ending mass abductions of schoolchildren.

Gumi, who spoke to The PUNCH on the phone on Wednesday about the abduction of 200 Islamiyya kids in Niger State’s Rafi Local Government Area, said many bandits were willing to talk and that the government should use them to combat the “ugly ones.”

He said, “We are always trying to do our best, but you see, you need two hands to shake. You know these people (bandits) need engagements from the government itself. If you dialogue with them without the involvement of the government, it is a problem.

“Government needs to be proactive with them. We have a lot of them that are ready to fight the bad ones. Use the bad to fight the ugly, and use the good to fight the bad ones when you’re done with the ugly. Look at Boko Haram, who finished Shekau? Was it not the splinter group? So, it is easy.

“All these agitations you see, if the government can do a splinter group and the splinter group is empowered, every man wants power and money, they will do your job. There are many ready to submit themselves. All the ones you see me meeting in the bush, they are all telling us, ‘we are ready.’”