Gumi: “We Cannot Win A War Against Those With Nothing To Lose” — Cleric Recounts Efforts To Rehabilitate Bandits, Calls For Peace In The North

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has called for a deeper, more humane approach to ending banditry and insecurity in Northern Nigeria, insisting that lasting peace can only be achieved through education, rehabilitation, and moral reorientation rather than sustained military confrontation.

In a powerful personal reflection shared with journalists, Gumi recounted his encounters with armed bandits during his peace missions in the forests, revealing his firsthand experience with the despair and hopelessness driving the violence that has devastated much of the North.

“When I ventured into the forests to understand the roots of banditry and the true nature of what we are facing, I met teenagers—strangers to education—armed with sophisticated weapons and driven by drugs,” Gumi said.

“As a former military officer, I know the strength of our armed forces. But I also know this: we cannot win a war against people who have nothing to lose.”

The Kaduna-based cleric described the bandits as victims of moral and social decay—youths stripped of purpose and manipulated by external influences. According to him, military action alone cannot extinguish such deep-seated despair.

“These are not civilised men. They have been corrupted by external influences, stripped of meaning, and robbed of the very sense of life itself. History has shown that no one truly wins against such despair. Such battles only multiply the ruins,” he said.

Gumi explained that his peace initiative in the forests led him to a new realization—that the solution must begin with restoring humanity and purpose to those who have strayed.

“That was when I realized the real mission: to make them human again—to give them a purpose worth living for,” he said.

He disclosed that as part of his efforts, he established a school to educate and reform former bandits, employing teachers and clerics, including Fulani scholars, to guide them through moral and spiritual instruction.

“During every Ramadan lecture, a Fulani scholar would speak to them in their own tongue—teaching them morality, compassion, and the sanctity of human life. In my conviction, this is the only path forward,” he noted.

Sheikh Gumi stressed that violence would only perpetuate further destruction and warned against turning Northern Nigeria into a “slaughterhouse,” drawing a somber comparison with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“When you do not hold the monopoly of arms, war is not the answer. The North will not become a slaughterhouse. Nigeria will not become another Gaza. We will tend to our wounds, rise from them, and move forward—by the will of God,” he declared.

He emphasized that his efforts have not been without risk, stating that he has repeatedly placed his life in danger in pursuit of peace.

“At least, I have done my share in trying to bring lasting peace to my land—risking my life and that of those I care about—while others sit cowardly in the comfort of their homes,” Gumi said.

Concluding his remarks, the cleric reaffirmed his unwavering faith in Nigeria’s unity and divine destiny.

“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he prayed.

The statement adds a new layer to the ongoing national conversation on the fight against insecurity, offering an alternative, community-based path to reconciliation and stability in the North.