Defending the Dialogue: Sheikh Gumi Lashes Out at Critics Amid Calls for His Arrest

Defending the Dialogue: Sheikh Gumi Lashes Out at Critics Amid Calls for His Arrest

For years, Sheikh Gumi has been one of the most polarizing figures in Nigeria’s national security discourse. Positioning himself as a vital link between the government and various bandit groups, his calls for dialogue and negotiation have often sparked intense public debate. Now, as the pressure mounts and demands for his arrest grow louder, the Islamic cleric is hitting back hard.

In a recent, fiery statement shared on his social media, Gumi directly addressed his detractors—those who accuse him of enabling criminality by advocating for talks instead of a full-scale military assault. He dismissed these critics as “spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people” driven by ignorance and a preference for “outrage to truth.”

Gumi maintains that his ongoing engagement with armed groups is not a crime, but a legitimate, necessary pursuit of peace in a nation plagued by worsening insecurity. He argues that those demanding his arrest are motivated by intolerance and a desire to politicize genuine peace efforts.

“ARREST HIM!!! These are the only words some spineless, irresponsible and unpatriotic imbecilic people can utter,” he wrote, challenging the idea that simply locking him up would solve the complex problem of banditry.

To prove the legitimacy and transparency of his actions, Gumi recalled a pivotal meeting he led in January 2021 within the Sabon Garin Yadi forest in Kaduna State. This was no secret, rogue operation.

• He stated he was officially escorted by the then-Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, who was representing the Inspector-General of Police.

• The meeting involved over 600 armed bandits and their commanders.

• The goal was a broad peace initiative, preaching dialogue to persuade them to surrender their weapons in exchange for government promises of security and basic amenities.

Gumi asserts that this entire process was conducted with the full knowledge and official approval of government authorities. His defense is simple: he has successfully brought criminal elements to the negotiation table, a result that military force alone has struggled to achieve. He sees his role as a peace broker, and views the outcry against him as a distraction from the root causes of the conflict.

The controversy surrounding Sheikh Gumi highlights a deep division in Nigeria: is negotiating with bandits a pragmatic path to peace and disarmament, or a dangerous capitulation that only empowers them? Gumi firmly believes the former, and he’s not backing down.

What are your thoughts on Gumi’s stance? Do you think dialogue is the most effective way to address banditry, or is it a dangerous precedent?