Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has cautioned Nigerian security agencies against using aerial bombardment in the ongoing fight against banditry, warning that such tactics risk killing innocent civilians.
Speaking during his Ramadan Tafsir session on Tuesday night in Kaduna, Sheikh Gumi expressed support for the proposed Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) as a dedicated force to confront criminals hiding in forested areas.
However, he strongly opposed airstrikes on forest zones, arguing that many innocent people—farmers, herders, and villagers—live in or near these locations where bandits operate.
“Bombing forests will lead to the death of innocent lives,” he said. “We must protect civilians at all costs. Any security operation should avoid methods that endanger non-combatants.”
The cleric referenced the tragic Tudun Biri incident in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where over 100 residents were reportedly killed in a mistaken Nigerian Air Force airstrike.
He described the event as a painful reminder of the dangers of indiscriminate aerial attacks.
While advocating firm and coordinated action against bandits, Gumi stressed that the approach must be precise and intelligence-driven to avoid civilian casualties.
He noted that bandit groups have grown more violent and organised in recent times and alleged that external influences are helping to strengthen them, warning that unchecked banditry could evolve into full-scale terrorism.
Gumi renewed his longstanding call for dialogue and non-military measures alongside enforcement, insisting that lasting peace cannot be achieved through force alone.
He urged the government to develop strategies that can flush criminals out of forest hideouts without exposing nearby communities to harm.
The cleric’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over the most effective and humane ways to address banditry and insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions.
