Stop Killing Bandits, They Are Victims Too — Sheikh Gumi

Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said killing bandits will only worsen the security situation in the country.

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He stated these during an interview with The PUNCH on efforts to rescue the kidnapped pupils of Tegina Islamic School, Niger State.

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“This (kidnap of Islamic pupils) actually proves to the nation that the bandits are not really indoctrinated, they are just looking for money and I think that this is a good prognosis.

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They are not targeting a religion; they are not ideologues, which are difficult to deal with.

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But with good engagement, education and enticements like jobs and other things, they will leave this work.

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But we need a partner and we need the government to understand. Individuals like me alone cannot do it,” he said.

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He insisted that the government could not protect schools without first finding means to end banditry in the country.

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He advised the government to engage the bandits instead of killing them because they were victims too. 

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“Ninety per cent of those who have weapons use them to protect themselves against cattle rustlers. They are victims too.

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Aerial bombardments will only worsen the situation because when you start killing their children, you remember they also have our children,” he added.

Source: Punchng