Treat bandits like Niger Delta militants – Gumi backs dialogue option

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warnedagainst jeopardising ongoing peace agreements between communities in KatsinaState and leaders of bandit groups. Gumi, a long-time advocate of dialogue as a pathway toending banditry, restated his position following recent peace talks in Matazu,Faskari, and Sabuwa local government areas, where several wanted bandit kingpinswere reportedly present. In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, he urged bothgovernment and security agencies to protect the fragile truce, advising thatarmed groups be treated with the same reintegration approach once adopted forNiger Delta militants. “Alhamdulillah. News has come that today, Sabuwa LocalGovernment has also held a peace settlement with the bandits in the forests toestablish peace throughout the entire local government area... May the securityagencies avoid destroying this peace agreement but instead teach them how tolive in peace, just as was done with the Niger Delta militants,” he wrote. But former senator and rights activist, Shehu Sani, hasstrongly criticised the initiative, arguing that dialogue with notorious banditsonly emboldens them. Sani said past peace deals in Katsina and Zamfara collapseddespite interventions from mediators, including Sheikh Gumi, leavingcommunities more vulnerable. “Bandits who have killed thousands, kidnapped innocentpeople, and raped women should not be rewarded with dialogue. They should beprosecuted or outrightly eliminated,” he said, stressing that justice,non-negotiations, is the only sustainable solution.

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