Gumi asks who will engage Boko Haram, bandits like Jonathan did Niger Delta militants
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has questioned who would be willing to engage Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits through dialogue, similar to the approach adopted by former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in dealing with Niger Delta militants.
Gumi made the remarks in a post shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, where he argued that dialogue and engagement played a role in restoring peace in the Niger Delta region.
According to him, Jonathan visited militants in the creeks during his administration, while Osinbajo also held engagements with them, leading to initiatives aimed at addressing militancy in the area.
“The former President Jonathan visited Delta militants in the creeks, so also the former Vice President Osinbajo. They all came up with a programme to tame the militants. Who is going to visit BH and bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” Gumi wrote.
The cleric suggested that similar efforts to engage Boko Haram terrorists and bandit groups would likely face criticism from some Nigerians.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the most effective strategy for tackling insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the continued activities of Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandit groups in parts of the North.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.