Govt. officials witnessed meeting with bandits, says Gumi

Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic leader, has revealed the presence of government officials during his meeting with bandits in their forest camps.

Gumi has relentlessly urged government to dialogue with, and offer the bandits amnesty. But the government on Thursday ruled out the possibility of negotiating with the criminals.

The Islamic leader, while reacting to calls for his arrest after government vowed to crush the criminals, said he did not act alone.

“Note, I never visited these bandits without a government official, but they are in the background”, said Gumi. He added that his efforts geared towards reforming the bandits.

“I’m trying to gather them and teach them that there is sanctity to life. They cannot kill, rape and so on. This is the addition I hope will work”, said Gumi, according to Daily Post. 

Gumi wondered why his peace efforts has attracted controversy.

“I’m not the first person that started dialoguing with them (bandits). I only added value, and I find them to be religious; religion is the only thing that teaches you that blood has sanctity. So this is the religious angle”.

“Even the Kaduna State governor dialogued with them, Zamfara governor dialogued with them.

“I’m not the first person that started dialoguing with them (bandits). I only added value, and I find them to be religious; religion is the only thing that teaches you that blood has sanctity. So this is the religious angle.”