Nigerians Call For Gumi Arrest

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Some Nigerians on social media are calling for the arrest of controversial cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for his roles in negotiating with the bandits.

African Examiner recalls that in March, bandits attacked the College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi LGA, and abducted 39 students.

Although, as of the time of filing this report, all the students have regained their freedom but ten of them earlier regained their freedom previously.

On Wednesday, after their parents staged a protest at the National Assembly complex to demand their release, reports surfaced that a cash transaction was made to secure their freedom.

Speaking during a television programme on Tuesday, one of the parents alleged that Gumi directed them to a Fulani man named Ahmed, who collected N800,000 from them.

“We kept going for meetings. They took us to Gumi’s house who said we should meet one Ahmed. I’ve forgotten the name,” she had said.

“A Fulani man was invited, we contributed almost N800,000 to him but he said the money was just for transportation. Then I started crying and pleaded with him that I am a widow, training my boy to become my helper in the future but he said that was not his concern.”

Also, the cleric in a recent interview with The Punch on Tuesday had tasked the Federal Government to collect N100 million from the Central Bank to pay the bandits.

“The money they are asking for is too much; if I give you that money, you cannot run away with it. Nobody can run. So, why not give them the money, they release the boys and then we pursue them and get our money back and do what is necessary; it is simple logic. So, bring the money from the central bank. How can they move that money? We should not be stupid.

These people are getting infiltrated; Boko Haram is getting close and they don’t respect the clergy. I need support to get them inoculated against the infiltration of these ideologies, whether Boko Haram or Ansaru, whatever it is. We need to shield them because they are naïve. If there is too much pressure on them, and they seek help from Boko Haram, who are richer and have more weapons, it is going to consume everybody,” he had said.

This latest development has sparked social media reactions as some Nigerians took to the micro-blogging platform demanding for the arrest of the cleric for his involvement in banditry. African Examiner presents some of their views below:

Dr. Dípò Awójídé@OgbeniDipo writes: “I spent about 10 minutes listening to Sheikh Gumi on AIT yesterday. I was just shaking my head endlessly. Herdsmen and bandits can kidnap and kill because the government hasn’t spent N1 on them? Jesus please help me control my tongue and my temper.”

Dr Aloy Chife@ChifeDr writes: “Sheikh Gumi knows where bandits are. But the Nigerian Army doesn’t. Sheikh Gumi knows where bandits live and that they live in huts. But the Nigerian Army doesn’t know this. Sheikh Gumi knows the bandits drink from streams. But Nigerian Army doesn’t know. Isn’t God wonderful?”

Nimrod Live and Let Live@GhenhisKhan writes: “Wait! Sheikh Ahmed Gumi was arrested and detained for 6 months in Saudi Arabia on the request of the US government for having email exchanges with aeroplane pant wearing bomber ? And thats the man who’s speaking to bandits and on behalf of them ? Now its beginning to make sense.”

Fisayo Soyombo@fisayosoyombo writes:“No matter how he disguises it, this Gumi is a kidnap apologist. Otherwise, what’s “Bandits don’t live a luxury life; they live in huts; they have nothing; they drink from the stream”? The innocent people being kidnapped, do they all live in mansions? Do they have everything?”

NEFERTITI@firstladyship writes: “Federal offenses include: 1. Killing of cows 2. Criticizing Buhari 3. Setting up the ESN. 4. Asking Buhari to resign. 5. Calling for a referendum. 6. Not linking your NIN-SIM. 7. Banning Open Grazing (RUGA). 8. Selling alcohol in Kano, Kaduna. 9. Refusal to pay Sheikh Gumi’s men.”

FS Yusuf@FS_Yusuf_ writes: “Gumi: “if the terrorists leave banditry, they won’t have a source of financing their war machines.” This is happening before our very eyes and everyone is acting as if all is okay. Thank you, Nigeria.”

DEMAGOGUE PhD.senior advocate@von_Bismack writes: “On AIT the interviewer asked Sheikh Gumi that ” if the bandits are under so much pressure why don’t they stop kidnapping? He answered that “If they (bandits) leave banditry they won’t have a source for financing their WAR MACHINE” How this man is still free worries me.”

Lance Ezay @ko_eazy writes: “If there’s any equivalent of white privileged in Nigeria, it is fulani privileged, things you can’t get away with are so few. Tops currently – Buhari, Gumi.”

Liberty4Real | #End1999constitution@olufunkeajibul1 writes: “Gumi – FG’s appointed Negotiator General for the Ministry of Banditry, Kidnapping and Terrorism..”

C!@xchinedum writes: For a government that claims they are serious on fighting insurgency, this is terrible. Man’s still moving around freely.”