Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Tinubu-led administration to arrest Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, over remarks perceived as sympathetic to bandits terrorising parts of Nigeria.
Adeyanju made the call following the circulation of a viral video in which Gumi reportedly commented on Fulani herders, amid rising insecurity across the country.
Key Highlights:
- Deji Adeyanju called on the Nigerian government to arrest Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi over comments about Fulani herdsmen.
- Gumi said Fulani herders “are going nowhere” and Nigerians must learn to live with them.
- The remarks triggered backlash online, with critics accusing Gumi of being sympathetic to bandits.
- Adeyanju argued that people who sympathise with terrorists should also be treated as terrorists.
- The controversy has renewed debate about insecurity in northern Nigeria and the government’s approach to mediators engaging armed groups.
In the footage, the cleric stated that Fulani herdsmen “are going nowhere,” adding that “they are part of us and we are part of them. We must live with them.”
The statements has sparked outrage on social media, with critics accusing Gumi of repeatedly making remarks seen as soft on armed groups responsible for killings, kidnappings, and attacks in northern Nigeria.
Reacting on his Facebook page, Adeyanju argued that individuals who sympathise with terrorists should be treated as terrorists themselves.
“People like Gumi can only survive in a country without a government. Terrorists sympathizers are terrorists,” he wrote.
He further claimed that Gumi’s public comments and actions were encouraging terrorism and undermining national security efforts.
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“His words and actions promote terrorism in Nigeria. I call on the government to arrest him to serve as a deterrent to others,” Adeyanju added.
Gumi, based in Kaduna, has been a controversial figure for years due to his engagements with armed bandit groups.
While he has defended his interactions as part of peace and reconciliation initiatives, critics argue that his actions risk legitimising criminal elements responsible for mass abductions and violent attacks.
The demand for Gumi’s arrest adds to the ongoing debate over the government’s handling of insecurity and its approach toward mediators interacting with insurgent groups in northern Nigeria.
