Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, prominent Islamic cleric, has defended his visits to bandits, stating that he always travels with security operatives and government representatives.
Speaking at the 2025 Southwest Muslims Ulama Summit at the University of Ibadan, Gumi emphasized that his outreach to armed groups aims to understand the roots of insecurity and open channels for education and rehabilitation.
Gumi attributed the insecurity crisis to lack of education and unemployment, saying, “The basic reason is lack of education and unemployment. These are the two evils.” He argued that years of neglect have created a generation of frustrated herders isolated from society.
The cleric also criticized what he called years of “misrepresentation” by the media and the public, saying, “Whenever you hear of Gumi, then I have a barrage of attacks coming at me, all because of this misrepresentation.” Gumi insisted that his intervention approach is to identify the “source of insecurity” rather than condemn from afar.
