Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reiterated that Nigeria should negotiate with bandits, describing the kidnapping of children as a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of soldiers.
Gumi made the statement during an interview with BBC Pidgin, which was shared in a video on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Tuesday.
While condemning all violent acts by bandits causing unrest across the country, he argued that abduction is less severe than killing.
“Kidnapping children is certainly a lesser evil than killing soldiers. Killing is far worse, but both are wrong. Not all evils carry the same weight,” Gumi said.
He cited past incidents, including the mass abduction in Kebbi State, noting that the victims were released unharmed.
“So it’s a lesser evil compared to Kebbi, where children were taken but released without fatalities,” he added.
The comments come amid the recent abduction of over 315 people in Niger State, including 303 students and 12 teachers. On 7 December, the Federal Government announced the release of 100 students, while 50 others had escaped a few days after the kidnapping.
Responding to questions about the victims, Gumi said, “It’s an evil, and we pray that they escape safely.”
He also defended his long-standing position that negotiating with bandits is necessary, describing engagement with non-state actors as a practical measure to protect lives and maintain peace. He stressed that such negotiations are common practice.
“That idea of ‘we don’t negotiate’—I don’t know where it comes from. It’s not in the Bible, it’s not in the Quran, and it’s not how things work in practice. Everyone negotiates with outlaws and non-state actors. Negotiation is a tool to stop bloodshed and preserve life,” he said.
Gumi clarified that his past interactions with bandits were conducted in coordination with authorities and with press coverage, not privately.
He added that his last meetings with bandit groups were in 2021, when he attempted to unify different factions, but the federal government at the time “was not interested” in supporting the initiative.
He confirmed that he withdrew entirely from any contact once the groups were officially designated as terrorist organizations.
