I Concern Pass About Di Attackers Pass Di Victims — Sheikh Gumi

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, don talk say im priority for Nigeria worsening security wahala na to face di people wey dey cause violence, no be to focus first on di victims. For interview on Channels Television Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi talk say di only way to stop di killings na to confront di attackers directly and deny dem di power to do more harm. He use medical example explain im point, say for any emergency, di first step na to stop di bleeding before attending to people wey don injure. He talk say dem attackers be like mad man for market wey dey stab people, and di solution na to collect di knife from am, no be to start with di injured. Gumi talk say no be say he dey disregard victims, but say government agencies dey responsible to support dem and get di capacity to do am.

Gumi push back against critics wey dey talk say im approach favour armed groups pass victims, insist say di state get emergency structures to care for di affected people. He say di real challenge na how to rehabilitate di “outlaws” with psychology and social engagement to pull dem from violence. According to am, di perpetrators dey known to communities and authorities and dialogue fit redirect dem. He say im stance dey based on years of firsthand encounters with bandits and government sabi say di method fit work but political issues dey hold everybody back. Gumi compare banditry to untreated sickness, say authorities must check root causes before solution go show. For years, he don maintain say negotiation, rehabilitation and reintegration better pass only military action, as many armed groups na product of neglect, poverty and revenge cycles, and addressing these root causes na di key to lasting peace.