They take billions of naira: Sheikh Gumi names Army, people cashing out on insecurity
- Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has accused the Nigerian Army and Air Force of contributing to insecurity
- The Islamic cleric also said the military leaders benefitted from banditry and insurgency by siphoning "billions of naira"
- Gumi earlier met with bandits in Zamfara state, a move that subjected the Kaduna-based cleric to massive criticism
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, has accused the leadership of the Nigerian military of being complicit in the sabotage of the counter-security efforts.
Gumi made this allegation on Thursday, February 11, when he featured on the Arise TV’s "News Night" programme.
According to the renowned Islamic cleric, the military leaders are not "cooperating" in the efforts to end insecurity because they are beneficiaries of the continuous attacks from the bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements, The Punch reports.
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng had reported that Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, alongside some other Islamic clerics, carried met with the bandits in Tubali and Makkai forests in Shinkafi local government area of Zamafara on Tuesday, February 2.
Gumi's decision to meet the dreaded bandits in their hideouts, however, generated massive outrage especially after the cleric confessed that the criminals wanted to take from the "national cake."
Speaking on his crisis-ending move, Gumi said the bandits told him the military does not want insecurity to end because "of the billions of naira" they siphon from the big budget marked annually on security.
"The military is not encouraging matters at all because they are the beneficiaries of this insecurity but I want them to change.”
“The allegation that these people (bandits) say, they say, you military, you don’t want this conflict to end because of the billions of naira you claim for fighting insurgency. So, the military is not cooperating."
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Banditry will soon end - Gumi
Earlier, Gumi expressed optimism in banditry and kidnapping becoming history in Zamfara state and the north.
Gumi gave this assurance on Monday, February 2, during his visit to Zamfara state on a dialogue session with bandits willing to drop their weapons.
The cleric said peace will find its way back into the north and Nigeria, adding that efforts have been intensified to also find a long-lasting peace to the farmer-herder crisis.
******
Rahaman Abiola is a result-oriented journalist and content writer with a firm grip of over 5-year corporate experience stranding diverse roles in digital & traditional media and social media communication.
A published literary writer, freelancer and public commentator, he has written over 100 essays covering diverse issues on economy, politics and current affairs, entertainment and leadership published in virtually all notable Nigerian national dailies and digital media in Nigeria.
He is a graduate of English Literature, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Source: Legit.ng
