Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has pledged his readiness to negotiate with the bandits for the release of kidnap victims in the country, only if the Federal Government gives him the go-ahead.
According to him, if contacted, he would lead a holistic dialogue between the Federal Government and bandits for the release of all kidnapped Nigerians.
Gumi, in an interview in Kaduna, yesterday, described as unfortunate the Kaduna State government’s stand against negotiating with the bandits over the abduction, last week, of 287 pupils of Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Council.
But, Gumi advised the government to use the same approach it used in securing the release of Abuja/Kaduna-bound train passengers, who were kidnapped on March 28, 2022, to secure the freedom of other victims.
The Islamic scholar also urged President Bola Tinubu not to follow the footsteps of former President Muhammadu Buhari who refused to dialogue with bandits.
He said: “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for the Kuriga school children abduction, but all the cases.
“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me to do for peace. I hope the Tinubu government will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the administration of Buhari refused to do so.”
Meanwhile, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has sued for peace among Muslims over the controversy concerning the emergence of deputy preacher at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, Dr Jamilu Sadia.
The Guardian gathered, yesterday, that Sadia’s appointment sparked some tension among students of an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who claimed that only he (Gumi) could make such an appointment.
The students, in a letter signed by Salisu Webmaster and addressed to the state government, Commissioner of Police and Director, Department of State Services (DSS), among others, alleged that no deputy had been appointed for Gumi.
The letter reads: “It has come to the knowledge of this forum of a certain write-up on social media by some unscrupulous elements that one Dr Jamilu Sadia, who is not, in anyway, a student of Gumi, has been appointed to deputise for Gumi in presentations of Tafsir and other religious teachings that he has been conducting at Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.
“This is totally unfounded and was fabricated by some undesirable elements, who have no link, whatsoever, with the mosque and teachings of the late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, with a view to inciting people and causing chaos in the Mosque, which has been enjoying peace and tranquility for a very long time now.”
Administrative Secretary, JNI, Yusuf Bida, while addressing newsmen, noted that Sultan Bello Mosque belongs to the entire Muslims under the care of JNI.
