Lakurawa: Sheikh Gumi Tells Tinubu How to Tackle New Terrorist Group
- President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has been urged to establish a special paramilitary to tackle the new terrorist group, Lakurawa sect, in the North
- Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic scholar, stated this while speaking on the recent expansion of the sect in the northern region
- The cleric maintained that the ideology of the group was yet to be known, adding that their recent attack was similar to other religious sects in the Sahel region
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Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic scholar, has called on the Nigerian government to establish a separate paramilitary outfit to combat the Lakurawa sect in the North.
He stated this following the sect's recent expansion into Niger state in North Central Nigeria as well as Kaduna state.
Gumi emphasized that the ideology of the group is still unclear, but their activities and recent violence in Kebbi state, which resulted in 17 deaths, suggest they are similar to other fanatical religious sects in the Sahel region.
Source: Twitter
According to New Telegraph, Gumi attributed the growth of the Lakurawa sect to foreign interference. He stated that Nigeria's rich mineral resources and fertile land make it an attractive target for external powers seeking to exploit its resources.
The Islamic scholar alleged that foreign powers are deliberately instigating chaos to create a dependency on their protection services. Gumi also criticised the Nigerian military's approach to combating terrorism, suggesting that it is not equipped to handle the nuances of fighting bandits.
Gumi's proposal to Tinubu on terrorism
Suggesting the way forward, Gumi proposed engaging local herders as a force of combat, citing the success of Bangladesh's paramilitary wings in infiltrating terrorist groups.
He also emphasised the need to address the root causes of the insurgency, such as illiteracy and economic hardship. Gumi noted that young recruits are often lured into the sect with promises of money, food, and cattle and that the group receives international backing due to the large amounts of funding it receives.
Gumi further urged the federal government to establish schools similar to the Almajiri schools established by former President Goodluck Jonathan to address the region's educational and economic challenges.
Similarly, he stressed the need to secure the country's porous borders to prevent further instability. Gumi warned that another insurgency could destabilise the region and further stretch the military's resources.
Atiku dismisses Tinubu's claim over election
Legit.ng earlier reported that Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, dismissed the claim that he was jealous of Tinubu.
The presidency had earlier accused Atiku of jealousy after the latter claimed that Tinubu stole his mandate.
But reacting, Atiku urged Tinubu to focus on governance rather than fighting the opposition while highlighting the policy flip-flops of the current administration.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
