Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reignited debate over Nigeria’s approach to tackling insecurity, asking why the Federal Government has not explored dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits in the same way previous administrations engaged Niger Delta militants to restore peace.
The Islamic cleric made the remarks in a statement shared on his official Facebook page, where he reflected on the government’s past peace efforts in the Niger Delta and questioned why similar initiatives have not been considered for the country’s troubled northern region.
According to Gumi, meaningful dialogue played a significant role in ending years of militancy in the oil rich Niger Delta and should not be dismissed as an option for resolving other security challenges facing the nation.
In his words, “Who will visit Boko Haram and bandits like Jonathan and Osinbajo visited the militants?”
The cleric referred to the peace efforts that preceded and followed the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, recalling how former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo engaged leaders and stakeholders in the region during periods of heightened unrest.
Gumi argued that those engagements helped build trust and eventually created the atmosphere for negotiations, rehabilitation programmes, and the surrender of weapons by many militants.
He questioned why those advocating dialogue with insurgents and armed groups in the North are often criticized despite the government’s previous reliance on negotiations in another part of the country.
According to him, dialogue should not be viewed as an endorsement of criminality but as one of several tools that governments can use to save lives and bring lasting peace.
The cleric maintained that history has shown that many violent conflicts around the world have eventually ended through negotiations rather than military force alone.
He noted that the identities and locations of many armed groups are already known to security agencies, insisting that this knowledge could be used to initiate carefully managed peace efforts alongside ongoing military operations.
Gumi has consistently defended his controversial visits to camps linked to armed bandits over the years, explaining that his objective has always been to persuade fighters to abandon violence and embrace peaceful coexistence.
He has repeatedly rejected claims that he supports terrorism or banditry, saying his engagements were aimed at encouraging dialogue and reducing bloodshed in communities devastated by years of attacks.
The cleric stressed that no nation benefits from endless conflict and urged authorities to consider every legitimate option capable of restoring stability to affected states.
His latest comments have once again sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Supporters of dialogue argue that negotiations, combined with effective security operations, economic development, and community engagement, could encourage more fighters to surrender while reducing civilian casualties.
Others, however, insist that terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and heavily armed bandit groups should face sustained military pressure rather than negotiations. They argue that dialogue without accountability could embolden criminal groups and undermine justice for thousands of victims who have lost loved ones or been displaced by violence.
Nigeria has battled Boko Haram insurgency for more than a decade, particularly across Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of residents, and destroyed communities and infrastructure across the North East.
At the same time, armed banditry has continued to plague several North Western and North Central states, with criminal gangs carrying out kidnappings for ransom, attacks on villages, cattle rustling, and highway ambushes.
Successive administrations have relied heavily on military offensives, intelligence gathering, and law enforcement operations to combat the growing insecurity. While security agencies have recorded several successes, attacks have continued in different parts of the country, prompting renewed discussions on whether alternative strategies should complement military action.
The Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, introduced in 2009 by the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, remains one of Nigeria’s most notable peace initiatives. The programme encouraged thousands of militants to surrender their weapons in exchange for rehabilitation, vocational training, education, and reintegration into society. The initiative contributed to a significant reduction in attacks on oil installations and helped stabilize crude oil production.
By referencing that experience, Gumi believes Nigeria should remain open to exploring dialogue where it can lead to peace, while ensuring that justice, security, and national interests are protected.
Whether the Federal Government will ever adopt such an approach toward Boko Haram or armed bandits remains uncertain. However, Gumi’s latest remarks have once again placed the conversation over negotiation versus military action at the center of Nigeria’s national security debate.
