Gumi urges more Islamic scholars to preach to bandits in Nigeria's Northwest
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi argues that deploying more Islamic scholars to preach to bandits in Nigeria’s Northwestern region could have yielded tremendous success and may still reduce reliance on military force. Speaking on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Gumi said sustained engagement could complement and, in some cases, reduce the need for a predominantly kinetic approach to the banditry crisis.
He noted that many bandits are products of ignorance, deprivation and social neglect—the same factors that have allowed the conflict to persist. Since 2021, he said, almost six years of preaching to bandits have shown what might have been achieved with broader scholar involvement. The aim, he wrote, is to teach bandits the sanctity of human life, the inviolability of property and the Islamic prohibition of killing and oppression, adding that "people are the victims of their own prejudice."
The statement highlights an ongoing debate over how to tackle insecurity in the Northwest, where banditry has displaced communities and disrupted livelihoods. Gumi’s call for a stronger non‑violent, ideological shift invites policymakers and citizens to consider whether investing in dialogue and education could complement security operations.
Will you support greater investment in scholar‑led outreach programs, or do you believe military action remains the only effective path to ending banditry in the region?