Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reignited national debate after stating that the kidnapping of schoolchildren by armed groups is a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of Nigerian soldiers — though he stressed that both acts remain unacceptable and condemnable.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Gumi revisited his widely criticised 2021 comments, saying his position was “partly right and partly wrong,” but maintained that not all forms of criminality carry the same weight.
“Kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing soldiers — definitely it is lesser. But all of them are evil. All evils are not the same,” he said.
His remarks come as Nigeria battles a new wave of mass abductions in Kebbi and Niger States, fueling public anxiety over worsening insecurity, deteriorating school safety, and the government’s counterterrorism strategy.
Gumi Denies Ongoing Links With Bandits
Addressing long-standing allegations of maintaining ties with armed bandit groups, Gumi insisted he has had no contact with them since 2021, claiming his previous engagements were conducted openly and with the approval of security agencies and local authorities.
“I never went there alone,” he said. “In 2021, I was trying to see how we could bring them together. But the federal government was not interested. Once they declared them terrorists, we disengaged totally.”
Cleric Labels Armed Groups as Fulani Herdsmen Fighting an ‘Existential War’
Gumi described the violent groups destabilising the Northwest — and increasingly the Southwest — as largely Fulani herdsmen fighting an “existential war” tied to cattle rearing and the loss of traditional grazing routes.
“They want to exist. Their life immemorial is cattle rearing,” he said, arguing that environmental pressures and restricted access to land have intensified conflict.
A History of Controversy
For years, critics have accused Gumi of acting as a “bandit sympathiser”, alleging that his public commentary and forest meetings have emboldened criminals and undermined government authority. Gumi strongly denies these claims, insisting his efforts were aimed at peace talks and conflict resolution.
