Gumi advises Buhari on how to stop banditry, herdsmen attacks

Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government on how it can stop banditry, herdsmen attacks, and other security challenges.

In a Facebook post, Sheikh Gumi suggested building of schools and encouraging children of herders to attend as one of the ways out.

He recalled how he encouraged some herdsmen in the Janjala forest of Kagarko to take up education and renounce banditry and the bandits jumped at the offer.

He stated: “It’s Education! In the package it means building schools for them and their children to rehabilitate them and prevent their children from joining the banditry as a way of life; it is called mopping out the pool from which criminals get their foot soldiers.

“Seven months ago, in early February, I was in Janjala forest of Kagarko to visit Herdsmen to encourage them to resist and fight back against the bad eggs among them and also put the foundation stone of a school/center for them.”

The cleric said no fewer than 600 students were enrolled for classes.

He added, “Today, with the roofing in place, they have moved into the school even without plaster, electrical fittings, ceilings, tiles, and painting to continue their lessons.

“So far, about 600 students were enrolled out of which 150 are married women.

“This is how a society is transformed and redirected.

“They have now tested the sweetness of knowledge and have seen the value of education. They cannot be recruited any more to commit crimes as they are looking forward to a brighter future of respect and dignity.”

Gumi observed the construction of Education centres will discourage people from taking to crime.

“This is a practical example for people to emulate and governments to listen to,” he said.

Several northern states like Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina have been badly hit by the activities of bandits, Fulani herdsmen and cattle rustlers.

Recently, Gumi visited bandits in the forests to convince them to stop their criminal activities.

He also urged the federal government to declare amnesty for the criminals, saying they themelves are also victims of the injustice in Nigeria.

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