Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has sparked fresh controversy after reiterating his argument that negotiating with armed bandit groups remains the most realistic approach to ending Nigeria’s cycle of violent killings and mass kidnappings.
His comments, shared through an interview broadcast by the BBC on Tuesday, have again drawn public attention to the ongoing crisis plaguing northern communities, where hundreds of schoolchildren continue to be targets of abductions.
Gumi insisted that while kidnapping is unquestionably a criminal act, the loss of life is a far greater tragedy.
He suggested that, in difficult circumstances, dialogue could prevent families from suffering irreversible bereavement and reduce retaliatory violence.
“Abduction is wrong and no one should glorify it, but once blood is spilt, it can never be restored,” Gumi stated in the interview.
“If a conversation can stop bullets from flying, then refusing to consider it becomes part of the problem.”
He pointed to incidents where abducted schoolchildren were released without casualties, citing them as examples of why negotiations should not be dismissed outright.
Previous cases in states such as Kebbi and Niger were referenced in the discussion, where large groups of students were eventually freed.
His remarks coincided with renewed national concerns after more than 300 students and teachers were recently seized in Niger State.
Authorities confirmed that 100 of those victims were released on December 7, while earlier reports indicated that about 50 others managed to escape shortly after the incident.
When asked about the fears of parents whose children remain in captivity, Gumi offered a brief but emotional response.
“It is painful, and I pray they return safely,” he said, adding that the human cost of the crisis should be the country’s most urgent consideration.
The cleric defended his longstanding position that refusing to negotiate is neither scriptural nor reflective of global practice.
He argued that governments around the world routinely engage with non-state actors when national security and human lives are at stake.
“People keep saying we don’t negotiate, but where did that idea come from?” he asked. “Nations negotiate with outlaws when the objective is peace. It is strategy, not surrender.”
Gumi also clarified that his previous interactions with bandit leaders were conducted openly and in collaboration with authorities, asserting that these engagements were documented by journalists and security agencies.
He disclosed that his last direct dialogue with the armed groups took place in 2021. According to him, multiple attempts were made to bring rival factions to the table, but government hesitation stalled the initiative.
“We tried to unify different groups to stop the violence,” Gumi explained. “What we lacked was consistent political will to drive the process.”
The debate over whether Nigeria should negotiate with bandits remains heavily divisive. Critics believe such talks legitimise criminality and may encourage further kidnappings.
Supporters argue that pragmatic diplomacy could save countless lives and buy time for deeper structural reforms.
The issue continues to hover like a dark cloud over national discourse, reflecting the broader question that Nigeria has yet to resolve, how does a country confront violence without deepening the wounds it seeks to heal?
As the crisis unfolds, the delicate balance between justice, security, and survival will shape the nation’s next steps, with the fate of hostages and the hopes of parents intertwined in decisions made far beyond the forests where abductors hide.