Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reiterated his advocacy for a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, insisting that several armed groups are willing to abandon violence.
Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, Gumi argued that meaningful progress can be achieved only when dialogue is prioritised alongside military efforts.
“We have people who are ready to put down their arms, so why must it always be a kinetic response?” he asked, stressing that Nigeria’s security challenges require non-violent solutions.
According to him, even powerful nations struggle with guerrilla-style conflicts.
“America could not succeed in Afghanistan; Israel has not succeeded in a small strip of land. No army is designed for the kind of warfare we face today.”
Gumi also said he would support calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra if Kanu expresses genuine remorse.
“If this same Kanu, convicted for terrorism, shows remorse and calls for peace, I will be at the forefront of advocating for his pardon and amnesty,” he said.
Kanu was convicted on seven counts of terrorism by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025.
Gumi referenced past government actions to justify his stance, noting that former presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to high-profile agitators and militant groups.
“This is how we are. Shagari pardoned Ojukwu. Yar’Adua granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants who also committed acts of terrorism.”
He further explained the difference between communal conflict and individual crime.
“After the civil war, atrocities were committed on both sides, yet the actors were pardoned because it was communal. But where it is individual crime, the law must apply.”
Gumi concluded by urging renewed focus on peace and reconciliation amid rising insecurity nationwide.
“We want peace in every part of Nigeria wherever there is tension.”
Recent incidents, including mass abductions of schoolchildren and worshippers across several states, have intensified public concern over safety.
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