Bandits Told Me They Are Forced To Kill Because They Fear Being Killed If They Stop — Sheikh Gumi

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed that some bandits told him they were being forced to continue killing because they feared they would be killed if they stopped.

Speaking during an interview on PAP News on Friday, Gumi called for an end to the violence, urging all parties to embrace dialogue and reconciliation.

When questioned the reason why only ordinary Nigerians were constantly being kidnapped, killed and extorted instead of politicians and military personnel, he responded saying;

“We asked them that. When military go to them and say they are coming to fight cattle rattlers, Why did they kill their women and children? Why are they killing their women and children? Why are the vigilantes arresting them and killing them? Why?”

Describing the situation as a cycle of violence, Gumi said, “So they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counter. So we as clergy, our own duty is to say, let’s stop the bloodshed. Let’s come to terms. It’s too much.”

He further disclosed what some of the armed men told him about their involvement in the killings.

“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 killed. So we need to reaffirm to them, to put confidence in them that they will not be killed,” he said.

On allegations that the bandits were being sponsored, Gumi said it was possible, questioning where the millions of naira paid as ransom ended up.

“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 weapons, more,” he said.

He also described the arms trade as a black market, alleging that foreign intelligence interests were behind the proliferation of weapons.

“It’s a black market, like drugs. 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”