‘We are forced to k!ll or be k!lled’ – Gumi reveals what bandits told him

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed that some bandits claimed they were being forced to continue k+lling people because they feared they would be k+lled if they abandoned the violence.

The cleric made the disclosure during an interview on PAP News on Friday, while calling for an end to the persistent insecurity in the country and urging all parties to embrace dialogue and reconciliation.

When asked why ordinary Nigerians were often targeted for kidn@pping, k+lling and extortion instead of politicians and military personnel, Gumi said the armed groups had raised similar questions about the actions of security operatives and vigilantes against their families.

He said the bandits complained about military operations and alleged k+llings of their women and children, as well as attacks by vigilante groups.

Describing the situation as a cycle of revenge and retaliation, the cleric said the priority should be to end the bl%odshed.

“So they feel it’s a field of bl%od, revenge, att@ck and counter. So we as clergy, our own duty is to say, let’s stop the bl%odshed. Let’s come to terms. It’s too much,” he said.

Gumi further disclosed that some of the armed men had told him they were unhappy with their actions but feared being k+lled if they stopped.

“They too are not happy. And they told me, ‘We are forced to do it.’ And they say because if they stop, they will be k+lled. So we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be k+lled,” he added.

On allegations that the bandits were being sponsored, Gumi said it was possible, questioning how ransom payments running into millions of naira were being spent.

He suggested that some of the money could be used to purchase more we@pons.

“It’s possible now, you know, it’s possible now because all those millions of naira being given to them as ransom, where do they go to? They buy we@pons, more,” he said.

The cleric also described the illegal arms trade as a black market, alleging that foreign intelligence interests were involved in supplying we@pons to armed groups.

“It’s a black market, like dr¥gs. It’s a black market. If you just have the money, you get them. And their suppliers are foreign intelligence, they definitely have a hand in it,” he stated.