Lawyer Accuses Sheikh Gumi of Shielding Bandits, Alleges Government Complicity in Insecurity

By Diafa Doubra,

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has accused Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of openly defending bandits and contributing to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Effiong, in a recent statement, said Gumi’s repeated public comments justifying the actions of armed groups in northern Nigeria show that the government is unwilling or unable to address the roots of banditry. He alleged that Gumi’s boldness stems from the protection he enjoys from powerful figures within the political class.

“Sheikh Gumi speaks as though he is above the law,” Effiong said. “His consistent defence of criminal elements and the government’s silence over his statements clearly suggest official complicity in the insecurity ravaging the country.”

Gumi has often argued that the so-called bandits are victims of state neglect and should be engaged in dialogue rather than military confrontation. However, Effiong described such arguments as “dangerous rationalisations” that embolden criminals and undermine national security.

The controversy reignites public debate about the Nigerian government’s approach to tackling terrorism and armed violence, particularly in the North, where hundreds of communities continue to suffer from kidnappings, killings, and displacement.