Islamic scholar Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has warned against the use of aerial bombardments in efforts to eliminate bandits from forests nationwide.
Speaking during his Ramadan Tafsir on Tuesday in Kaduna, Gumi supported the creation of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) to combat banditry but cautioned that air raids could lead to civilian casualties.
He emphasized that while tackling banditry demands strong and coordinated action, bombing forested areas carries significant risks for innocent people living in or near these locations. Gumi referenced the tragic incident in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where over 100 civilians reportedly lost their lives in an accidental airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force.
Nevertheless, Gumi insisted that the NFSS should use decisive military force to confront criminal elements.
He noted that bandits have become increasingly dangerous and brutal, attributing this escalation to alleged external influences seeking to destabilize the country. According to Gumi, this trend supports his earlier warnings that bandit groups could develop into full-fledged terrorist organizations if left unchecked.
Gumi also urged authorities to adopt strategies that would dislodge criminals from forest hideouts while safeguarding civilian lives.
Gumi has previously entered forests in northern Nigeria to meet with bandits in efforts to persuade them to abandon their criminal activities. He has also repeatedly advocated for amnesty for bandits implicated in mass killings, abductions, and property destruction.
Some Nigerians have called for Gumi’s arrest over his interactions with bandits.
(NAN)
