According to a video shared on Gumi’s official Facebook page on Wednesday from 7:36, November 19, 2025, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has attributed the worsening security crisis in parts of the country to decades of neglect, loss of grazing routes, and the absence of education and employment opportunities for herders. He made the remarks while continuing his address at the Congregation of Southern Nigerian Ulamah Summit Conference in Ibadan.
The cleric recalled how herding patterns have drastically changed over the years. “Before, in the 80s, when you take off, you will see white patches where you see cattle’s rearing. But today, from Sokoto to Kaduna, Kaduna to Lagos, you will not see one single patch. All cattles were most rusted,” he said. Gumi argued that the collapse of traditional livelihoods has pushed many herders into desperate conditions. “They don’t have occupation. They don’t have education. So they are forced into this,” he stated.
According to him, firsthand interactions with herder communities reveal a strong desire to abandon violent activities. “How do you know they are forced? Because when you go into them and ask them, do you want peace? They will say, yes, yes, we are tired, we want peace,” he explained. He contrasted this with extremist groups whose motivations differ. “So people are saying, okay, why don’t you talk about Boko Haram? Why don’t you talk about the IPOB? They don’t want peace. Most people don’t want peace,” he said.
Gumi insisted that meaningful engagement is possible only with groups willing to embrace rehabilitation. “So you talk with somebody who wants to lay his arms and be rehabilitated into being a human being,” he noted. He concluded by acknowledging criticism of his approach but maintained that his efforts are grounded in humanitarian and religious duty. “So this is, in short, what I’ve been doing and where I’m leveling with all the names you hear. You scholars, I know you understand and pardon me for that,” he said. View, More,
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