Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s suspicious interface with terrorists

Notwithstanding the posit of Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi that all hands need be on deck to tackle the persistent menace of terrorism and banditry in the country, his constant flirtations with the terrorists remain curious, and his motive even suspicious. This is against the backdrop of the violence employed by the terrorists on hapless Nigerians whom they kidnap and even kill at will, coupled with the fact that the criminals encamp in the forests of the Savannah as their operational base and usually do not welcome ‘intruders’. It is certainly strange that while armed soldiers and other security personnel face a lot of danger in attempting to make forays into the forest, Gumi, unarmed and a mere cleric, has no problem going in and out of the forest to hold meetings with the terrorists, supposedly in aid of ending terror in the land. The question is why Gumi? Why not other clerics many of whom had been killed by the terrorists on account of their disposition to the insurgents? What makes Gumi so special when trained security experts do not have access to the terrorists? These are questions that the country’s security agencies need to answer to the satisfaction of Nigerians, assuming that government knows more about Gumi’s exploit than the perception of the ordinary Nigerian.

 

Following his consistent interactions with bandits and Boko Haram terrorists, coupled with his persistent demand for their amnesty, security agencies recently invited Gumi, for interrogation. Reacting to questions put to him regarding his invitation by security agencies, the fiery cleric stated that his interrogation with security agencies was cordial and that he was treated with courtesy. In Gumi’s words: “Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry, as we are all trying – each in his sphere – to tackle the monster bedevilling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and respect. As a nation, we all need to unite and work in synergy to achieve everlasting peace. May Allah continue to protect us all from all evil.”

   

It is worrisome nonetheless how and why non-state actors like Gumi can freely interact with terrorists and bandits, claiming to help facilitate the freedom of their abductees. Despite the worsening insurgency in Nigeria, Gumi has been interacting with these groups and advocating amnesty for them, suggesting that it would lead to peace in Nigeria. Curiously too, security authorities have not determined possible complicity in this interaction. Would this be permitted in saner climes? What emboldens these terrorists and bandits to move in and out of their hideouts without fear of arrest? Are they above the law? Is Gumi’s approach to ending terrorism and banditry logical, given that those granted amnesty have not stopped terrorising innocent people?

   

This sad development is a consequence of the failure of state actors to protect lives and property, thereby enabling non-state actors to seize initiatives of brokering peace in a manner that holds their intention suspect. At the same time, the terrorists continue to kill, maim, harass, and terrorise innocent citizens. Therefore, Gumi and others interacting with terrorism should be thoroughly investigated for their motive and prosecuted if evidence exists linking them to terrorism and banditry. Ordinarily, Gumi should be assisting security agencies to track terrorists and bandits since he has been interacting with them over the years. For the umpteenth time, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, recently urged the Federal Government to interrogate individuals with claims of having close ties with bandits. Bishop Kukah believes that the Federal Government, at the highest level, knows such individuals but has been reluctant to disclose their names.

 

Bishop Kukah may be right. During the Buhari government, President Buhari and the former Federal Attorney-General had admitted that they knew the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, but the latter said that revealing their identities would jeopardise investigation. It is hardly surprising that the names of the sponsors have never been revealed by the government.

  

This is sad. Why hide the identities of sponsors of terrorism when such a revelation would be useful to defeat terrorism in Nigeria? Why hobnob and offer amnesty to criminals and their sponsors who are killing Nigerian citizens? It seems that sponsors of terrorism and banditry are sacred cows in Nigeria. Government needs to walk the talk of the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who recently said that the government will not stop at anything to get the kind of information that will help the country defeat terrorism.

 

Given the escalation of terrorism and banditry in the country, the Federal Government should do everything possible now to rid the country of these vices, beginning with an interrogation of all those suspected to have ties with terrorists and bandits and, if necessary, bringing all of them to justice no matter whose ox is gored. Instead of letting Boko Haram terrorists and bandits go scot-free or offering them amnesty, the government should equally bring terrorism charges against them in the court of law in the interest of justice and to serve as a deterrent to others. The government cannot be seen to be aiding and abetting terrorism by refusing to prosecute individuals with ties to terrorism and at the same time bemoaning the widespread terrorist activities in Nigeria. If the government can prosecute Nnamdi Kanu and others for alleged terrorism, why the refusal to prosecute others with ties to terrorism?

  

Now President Bola Tinubu needs to demonstrate strong leadership in the fight against terrorism by ensuring that all individuals linked to terrorism are interrogated and if necessary prosecuted in the court of law. Under Section 14 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it is the primary purpose of the Federal Government to protect the lives and property of the citizenry. This responsibility cannot be wished away or delegated to other bodies. The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has ranked Nigeria as the third country with the most impactful and deadliest terrorist organisations for the sixth consecutive time since 2015.

  

Therefore, in the coming months, Tinubu should set clear priorities, communicate effectively with the public, and take decisive action to address the security threat. Prosecuting individuals linked with terrorism sends a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated, which can act as a deterrent to others considering similar acts. Prosecution also ensures that those responsible for committing or planning terrorist acts are held accountable for their actions, a fundamental aspect of ensuring justice for victims and their families.

  

Additionally, the government can use its military forces to fight Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. This would involve deploying well-armed troops to the affected regions and carrying out targeted military operations against the terrorists. The government can equip and train its military to better combat the insurgents. The government can enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities to more effectively monitor the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. This would involve deploying more intelligence officers to the affected regions, using advanced technology to track the terrorists’ movements and communication, and strengthening collaboration between security agencies.