Nigerians have queried the stand of renowned Kaduna Islamic Cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on bandits terrorizing the north.
Sheikh Gumi’s relationship has stirred controversy amongst Nigerians as they have taken to social media to question his romance with bandits who are terrorizing the north.
This is coming after images of the Gumi surfaced online, where he was seen with some bandits.
Recall that the Kaduna based cleric also said that he had met with the abductors of the Niger residents and students, confirming that they would be released soon,
Reacting to the cleric’s meeting with the bandits and even engaging them in dialogue and pledging the Federal Government to grant them Amnesty, some Nigerians on Twitter expressed their displeasure at the seeming growing romance and relationship between Gumi and the bandits.
Read some reactions below;
@sadiqTade wrote: “Sheikh Gumi seems to know more about bandits (terrorists) in the northern states judging with his recent engagements with these people. I don’t know if he is doing the right thing or not but I feel something isn’t reasonable about the whole thing. More like encouraging Terrorism.
“On a regular day, Buhar-led administration has done so much to give confidence to terrorists. Although these terrorists with sophisticated weapons are being paraded as Bandits in the media maybe for politics. However, the fact remains Buhari admin has emboldened these criminals.
“You can’t keep negotiating with this dangerous set and keep expecting positive change or something related. Rewarding, negotiating or dialoguing with criminals would only encourage potential criminals to dive into full criminality because they are aware of the juicy rewards.”
@Dan99st wrote: “They kidnap and get compensated. They are just using the masses to finance their agenda. Later on, they get pardoned because they’re “reformed”. All of this is wrong.”
@Aitemej1 wrote: “From the presidency to the governors to the legislators to the sheiks/other Islamic scholars, to the traditional rulers, to the religious leaders and many elites in the north nothing is hidden in all these dramas.
In fact, many are key actors and are just trying to fool Nigerians”
@Matru wrote: “Na middleman business Sheik dey do. Him dey collect him share after every transaction”
@NNWaebiem said: “If they are not encouraged to keep kidnapping people, how would they implement the much needed Northern Amnesty? Remember, Federal Character is enshrined in our constitution. I said it and nothing will happen!”
@emekakickoff said: “Am so surprised. When I listened to his call in a telephone conversation guest @RaypowerNetwork I was hummmmm, so bold with his talk. Something seems not right at all.”
@Matrumery wrote: “He wants to be chopping middleman money when the government and bandit negotiate.. it’s business for him. He collects his share as mediator”
@the_olanrewaju said: “Balance me quick, how did he locate the bandits? What intelligence does he have that the security agencies don’t? Questions begging for answers.”
@Kingjoey said: The Gumi’s style will breed more insurgents. There is nothing better about it. Am beginning to suspect that Boko Haram, Gumi’s ‘Children’ are still the bandits. Kwatiniu, God will judge leaders of Boko Haram masquerading like Clerics of God.
The grandson of second Republic President, Bello Shagari, tweeting with the handle @belshagy wrote: “Instead of being seen as a brave cleric facing these criminals face to face, Sheikh Gumi is seen by those who misunderstood as either the northern interest, government agent and sometimes even as criminal himself.
“He is just a volunteer working on his own.
“Yes you can compare Sunday Igoho with Sheikh Gumi in the sense that they are intervening.
“However, while Sheikh is calling for peace, Sunday is calling for war.
“The sheikh is not inciting anyone unlike Sunday openly does.”
