The
Islamic cleric and peace negotiator, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said that the
Federal Government knows the hiding place of the herdsmen and bandits involved
in clashes with farmers, kidnappings and other criminal activities.
Sheikh
Gumi said that the government was only now playing safe because it realized
that the former approach of attacking the bandits frontally was not working.
The
Islamic cleric said this on a Channels TV programme on Monday, when asked why
he can locate and hold dialogue with the bandits, while government authorities
cannot find them.
Gumi
said: “They (government) know. They see them (bandits) by aerial view. But the
military has learned its lesson.
“The
first approach they had— when they go in and start killing— they realized is
the wrong way and that they were producing a monster. They are now careful.
“The
only element I am adding now is ‘look, don’t just wait and watch, go in and
negotiate’.”
Gumi
also said Fulani herders feel their existence is being threatened, so they
cross borders to defend their kinsmen each time they are attacked.
He
also noted that the Fulani bandits were not Boko Haram, noting, however, that “We
have to be very careful.
“If
the pressure is too much, I am afraid they can be influenced by Boko Ham. We
have seen the signs that Boko Haram is going to infiltrate them.”
(Today.ng)
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