Kaduna- based Islamic cleric , Sheik Ahmad Gumi, on Sunday said the amnesty he proposed for bandits in the North should be extended to the Fulani involved in kidnappings in the South .
Gumi, who stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents, also said the bandits involved in kidnappings were not foreigners, but Nigerians.
The prominent cleric had after a meeting with bandits in Zamfara State forests two weeks urged government to grant them amnesty .
He also met bandits along Kaduna- Abuja road , which had witnessed a series of kidnappings and killings .
After the kidnapping at Kagara, Niger State on Wednesday , Gumi also visited the state and held a meeting with some bandits.
Justifying his call for extension of amnesty to the South , Gumi said everyone carrying a gun should also be included for the country to have a fresh start .
He noted that northern governors , except Kaduna State Governor , Nasir El -Rufai , had accepted his reaching out to bandits in the North.
Gumi insisted that the bandits involved in kidnappings were not foreigners , but Nigerians .
He said , “ People don’ t know the Fulani at all . They are not after money. Even when they are burning houses in Oyo , don’ t you see where they live? They stay in huts. They are not into buying flashy cars. They just like their cattle . The money they are collecting from kidnappings , they are buying weapons with them . The more you fight them , the more they fight back . They don’ t surrender . They are saying if the air force continues to pester them , they will have to get anti – aircraft .
“ Not all of them are criminals ; the hard-line ( position ) taken against them turned them into the militants that they are . They showed me a village , which does not belong to the Fulani , but was bombarded by the air force. A well was filled with dead bodies . The air force killed them because they thought it’ s a Fulani enclave , if they are Fulani , what about the wives and children ? It is the military that produced these monsters, just like they did with the Boko Haram . We need dialogues with them .
“ I am encouraged because I have started seeing instant results. The bandits ; nobody can call them except we use the religious card. So , these people making noises , let them try to see if they can get them to listen . They don ’ t respect any authority because they have formed an authority of their own . But if you speak to them and say , ‘ This is sacrilege to the sanctity of religion, they’ ll listen . So , why won ’ t we explore it?
“ I spoke to the warlord there ( Niger State ) and he does not know the current situation of things ( about the kidnapped Kagara pupils ) . There is a communication gap because the forest is vast . The terrain does not leave room for expediency. But I believe that ultimately , they will be released today ( Sunday ) . They could have been released now , but before they get to the town , it will take time . When we left them ( the bandits ) , it took us from 6pm to 3am before we reached home . ”
He said like the Federal Government gave the people of the Niger -Delta amnesty , the same gesture should be extended to those carrying guns in the country .
“ It should be a blanket amnesty , not only the Fulani . Anybody that is carrying weapons , you give him amnesty . Let ’ s do it for all these people carrying weapons and Nigeria will open a new page . Don’ t be surprised, these Boko Haram people , if you approach them the way you approach these people ( bandits ) , they will listen . If you talk, it is better than all this language of might . Dialogue will give you what violence cannot give you .
“ El – Rufai is the only one left . There is no other governor . But he is a very intelligent man , and if he sees reason, he will ( key into my mission) . I don’ t see any governor that will not key in. The more you get close , the more you see reason with these people , and to ask why are they doing it, ” he added .
