Sheikh Gumi Ask Nigeria Govt Not Use Force On New Terror Group, Lakurawa

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent and controversial Islamic scholar and preacher, stated that the emergence of the Lakurwa terror group, primarily composed of foreigners, is a result of conflicts among herders. In an interview with DAILY POST, Gumi warned against relying solely on military force to address this new terror group.

He remarked, “I’m only learning about this through the media; I have no prior knowledge. Addressing terrorism is a complex issue that goes beyond military action; it requires efforts to deradicalize individuals and alter their mindset. If we leave young men armed in the wilderness with misguided beliefs, we are setting ourselves up for danger as they may misuse their weapons.

“From what I understand, this situation involves foreign terrorists collaborating with disgruntled herders. We should avoid putting excessive pressure on the herders that could lead them to seek outside help.

“When it’s simply a herders’ uprising, it’s different from a situation involving religious extremists, which complicates the response.

“It’s crucial to prevent our citizens from being swayed by foreign influences. If we resort to bombardment instead of engaging in dialogue, we will see the consequences we are currently facing.

“I have personally spoken with them in the bush and discovered that with the right approach, we could have persuaded them to align with us and prevent foreign terrorists from infiltrating our territory.”

Gumi expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with members of the terror group to help deradicalize them, provided the Nigerian government supports such initiatives.

He stated, “We need the government’s commitment to facilitate dialogue with them.

“However, if one group is negotiating while another is launching attacks, it will not be effective.

“The government should prioritize funding for social rehabilitation rather than defense. Many Nigerians are eager to take on this task, and I find myself in the midst of it, with no other choice,” he concluded.