By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has renewed his call for dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits, questioning why the Federal Government has not pursued negotiations similar to those that helped end militancy in the Niger Delta.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gumi referenced the engagements of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with Niger Delta militants, saying the outreach contributed to the development of programmes that restored relative peace to the oil-producing region.
According to him, both leaders visited militant camps in the creeks and initiated measures that eventually reduced violence.
Gumi questioned who would be willing to engage Boko Haram fighters and bandits in the same manner without attracting public criticism.
The Islamic scholar has consistently advocated dialogue with armed groups operating in the North-West and North-East, arguing that negotiations and rehabilitation offer a more sustainable solution than military action alone.
Over the years, he has visited bandit camps in states such as Zamfara, saying the engagements were aimed at understanding their grievances and encouraging peaceful resolutions.
His approach has, however, remained controversial. While some Nigerians believe his interventions have contributed to the release of kidnapped victims, critics argue that such engagements risk legitimising criminal groups responsible for killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
Gumi has repeatedly denied supporting terrorism, maintaining that his objective is to end bloodshed through dialogue and rehabilitation.
Nigeria’s Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, introduced in 2009 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and sustained under President Goodluck Jonathan, provided disarmament, vocational training, stipends and reintegration support for thousands of former militants. The programme is widely credited with reducing attacks on oil facilities and improving security in the region.
Jonathan had earlier engaged militant leaders in the Niger Delta during his tenure as vice president, while Osinbajo, as Acting President in 2017, also visited communities in the region to meet with traditional rulers, community leaders and former militants as part of efforts to address insecurity and grievances.
