Gumi to Tinubu: Negotiate with bandits, terrorists, grant them amnesty

Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has urged the Federal Government to establish a six-month amnesty window for terrorists and bandits to surrender their weapons and embrace peace.

Gumi made the call in an interview reported by SaharaReporters, arguing that negotiation was necessary to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

He cited negotiations involving groups such as the Taliban and Hamas, asking why Nigeria could not adopt a similar approach. Gumi also proposed education and economic opportunities for the groups and their children, including schools in affected communities.

He further suggested diverting some military spending towards livelihoods and other socio-economic interventions, arguing that poverty and idleness could contribute to recruitment into armed groups.