Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has lamented what he described as the unjust demonization of his peace efforts, revealing that he has also been a victim of banditry. Speaking in an interview on Trust TV from 19:03 on Friday, November 7, 2025, the cleric disclosed personal experiences of loss, including the kidnapping of his brother and the killing of a relative by bandits.
“Myself, I’m suffering from this demonization. Look at all the efforts I’ve been trying to bring peace in our region because I’m in the eye of the storm. I know what the population is suffering from. I’m a victim of this bandit. My brother was kidnapped. We had to pay about 5 million to ransom him. I have a relative who was in the army, was ambushed by these bandits. They killed him,” he said.
Gumi stressed that his advocacy for dialogue stems from a desire to restore peace and stability in the country, not to defend or justify criminal activity. He lamented that despite his continuous mediation efforts, he has been unfairly labelled a “bandit advocate.” “We have a stake in the nation. That’s why we are trying to pacify. I see that there’s peace in the nation, and yet now they say you are a bandit advocate, you are a bandit. They don’t want us to have a solution to this problem. So I don’t think Nigeria should really entertain,” he added.
The cleric further urged the Nigerian government to strengthen its military capabilities by forming defence partnerships with China and Russia, emphasizing the need for anti-aircraft weapons to counter external threats from President Trump. “What I call for Nigeria to do immediately is to go into military pact with China and Russia so that they give us some anti-aircrafts. That is their only weapon. They cannot put boots on the ground. The military, American military cannot put boots on the ground. They cannot hold a ground. Just like they didn’t do it in Iraq. Just like they didn’t do it in Afghanistan. What they do is to bombard, kill, decapitate leaders, you know. This is the only thing they can do. So we should try and get very good anti-aircraft missiles now. It’s high time for Nigeria,” Gumi stated. View, More,
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