Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said greater involvement of credible Islamic scholars in engaging bandits in North-West Nigeria could have produced more positive results in addressing the security crisis.
Drivetvnews gathered that Gumi made the statement in a post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to him, sustained religious engagement with bandits could complement security operations and, in some situations, reduce reliance on military and other kinetic measures.
He argued that some bandits were products of what he described as ignorance, deprivation and social neglect, which he said had contributed to the persistence of insecurity in the region.
Gumi said Islamic scholars could have been systematically deployed to engage the bandits and teach them about the sanctity of human life, respect for property and Islamic teachings against killing and oppression.
He noted that efforts to engage bandits through preaching had been ongoing since 2021, but suggested that broader participation by credible clerics could have produced greater impact.
