According to a report on Sahara Reporters, popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Gumi has reacted to the declaration of Bandits as terrorists. There have been many demands for the Federal Government to declare bandits terrorists over the heinous crimes that have continued to take place in the country. There have been mixed reactions since the declaration was made, many Nigerians have commended the move, but Sheikh Gumi thinks otherwise....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The Nigerian Senate, House of Representatives, and many prominent Nigerians have all contributed to the call to declare bandits as terrorists. This is to the belief that with the move, the Nigerian Military will take the fight seriously, and by every means possible the Military will bring an end to the insecurity challenges caused by bandits. Sheikh Gumi in his reaction said declaring bandits as terrorists, will only worsen the situation.
Sheikh Gumi said he thinks, the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. The Islamic scholar noted that even before, declaring them as terrorists he said they were already being fought and treated as terrorists. He said it is just a nomenclature which he believes will not change the dynamics on the ground. The popular sheik compared the situation to that of IPOB. You will recall that in 2017, the Federal Government declared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as terrorists.
Sheikh Gumi noted that IPOB members were declared terrorists, and the declaration he said was backed by an order from the court. He said international communities, didn’t recognize the Federal Government declaration of the IPOB group as a terrorist organization. He said as things stand, declaring IPOB as a terrorist organization, has failed to effective or have achieved the desired result, noting that members of the group have not been banned from traveling outside the country, and their citizenship remains intact.
Furthermore, Sheikh Gumi said the issue of Banditry is a socio-economic problem which they have seen and have interacted with the bandits, and have shown the Federal Government a way out. He said the fight can only be won through engagement, dialogue, and justice. In my opinion, declaring these bandits as terrorists won’t bring an end to the problem, rather the Federal Government should sort for a lasting solution to the challenge of banditry. There has been a massive fight against bandits even before they were proscribed terrorists but the challenge has persisted.