Nigerians are reeling after controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi made shocking remarks suggesting that the mass kidnapping of schoolchildren is not as serious as the killing of soldiers. Gumi, whose sympathies toward armed bandit groups have raised eyebrows in the past, made these comments in an interview with the BBC, sparking fierce backlash across the country.
Incredibly, Gumi told the BBC that while abducting minors is “evil,” it’s still a lesser offense than murder , and in cases where victims are released unharmed, the crime is further downplayed. “Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely is lesser. Killing is worse than, but they are all evil. It’s just a lesser evil. Not all evils are of the same power,” Gumi said, appearing to minimize the terror experienced by abducted children and their families.
Pointing to previous incidents, including the notorious Kebbi State abductions, Gumi argued that because the children weren’t killed, the crime shouldn’t be seen as severe as other atrocities. “They abducted children, and they were released. They didn’t kill them,” he stated, as if the trauma and horror of abduction itself could be brushed aside.
These controversial opinions come as Nigeria faces another wave of mass kidnappings. In Niger State alone, 303 students and 12 teachers were recently abducted in a single incident. While the government claims to have secured the release of 100 students and reports say 50 others escaped, the incident is yet another black mark on the country’s security apparatus.
When asked what he would say to the parents whose children are still missing, Gumi offered little comfort, simply calling the act “evil” and saying, “we pray that they escape.” Many see this as a grossly inadequate response to the suffering of hundreds of families.
Despite the outrage, Gumi is unapologetic about his approach, doubling down on his controversial opinion that government should negotiate with bandits. He dismissed the idea that negotiation is taboo, saying, “Everybody’s negotiating with outlaws, non-state actors, everybody.” Gumi insists that engagement is the only way to end the bloodshed, challenging the government’s current stance against talks with criminals.
Trying to clear his own name, Gumi claimed he always met with bandits openly and with full knowledge of the authorities , statements likely to fuel more suspicion of official complicity with armed groups. He says his direct involvement with bandits ended in 2021, only after they were labeled as terrorists by the government.
Gumi, a former army captain, also claimed that the military alone cannot fix Nigeria’s security crisis, placing blame on politics and the community, and urging a “multi-faceted approach.” He also made contentious statements about the bandits’ identities, insisting most are Fulani herdsmen fighting for “survival,” and tried to distance them from urban Fulani , a distinction that many see as an excuse for violence.
With his latest comments, Gumi has once again inserted himself into the center of Nigeria’s security debate. His willingness to rationalize child abduction and call for dialogue with criminals is dividing the nation, raising questions about the role of religious leaders and the government’s apparent inability to protect its own people. For now, victims’ families are left to hope for action , not just more words from headline-seeking clerics.
