Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi has expressed confusion regarding the government’s refusal to initiate direct talks with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits. He drew a parallel between the current security challenges and the previous peace efforts involving Niger Delta militants.
In a social media post released Saturday, Gumi highlighted how past leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, proactively met with militants in the Niger Delta. Those meetings were followed by structured initiatives designed to curb hostilities. Gumi questioned why a comparable strategy has not been implemented to address the violence occurring in northern Nigeria, asking who might approach these groups without facing public backlash.
A proponent of negotiation, Gumi has frequently traveled to bandit camps in states like Zamfara to push for peaceful resolutions. The retired military officer emphasizes that the strategy utilized for the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme—which began under late President Umaru Yar’Adua and provided training and financial support for surrendering fighters—could serve as a blueprint for ending regional insecurity. While critics often challenge his methods, Gumi asserts that his primary goal is to stop the ongoing bloodshed through rehabilitation and reconciliation.
