Sheikh Gumi Defends Dialogue With Bandits, Boko Haram

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reiterated his support for dialogue as a strategy for addressing insecurity in Nigeria, arguing that similar approaches have previously been used to reduce violence in the Niger Delta.

In a Facebook post shared on Saturday, Gumi questioned why attempts to engage Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits through negotiations often attract criticism, despite past efforts by government officials to hold talks with militant groups in the South-South region.

The cleric recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo both interacted with Niger Delta militants during separate peace initiatives aimed at ending unrest in the oil-producing region.

According to Gumi, those engagements eventually paved the way for programmes that helped reduce militancy and restore relative peace in the area.

Drawing a comparison with the security crisis in northern Nigeria, he argued that any leader willing to initiate discussions with Boko Haram members or armed bandits would likely face public condemnation.

He questioned who would be prepared to undertake such a task if every attempt at dialogue is immediately criticised.

Gumi has consistently maintained that negotiations should form part of broader efforts to tackle Nigeria's security challenges, a position he has expressed on several occasions while advocating alternative approaches to resolving armed conflicts across the country.

His latest comments are expected to generate fresh debate over the role of dialogue in addressing insurgency and banditry, with opinions remaining divided on whether negotiations can deliver lasting peace alongside ongoing military operations.