Popular Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi has asked the Nigerian government to grant ‘blanket amnesty’ to bandits terrorising the country in the North.
Sheikh Gumi made the request while addressing journalists in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Friday, after meeting the governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, over the abduction of students of Government Science College, Kagara, Wednesday morning.
Gumi urged the government at various level to seek non-violent approach as a means of curtailing criminal activities of terror groups in the Northwest and Northcentral regions of the country.
He said the terror groups should be granted amnesty as the government did in the case of Niger Delta militants when they agitated for resource control in the Niger Delta region.
Concerning the attack on the school, he said:
“The outcome of the meeting was very positive because you have a warring faction saying that they have complaints and grievances, which are very simple.
“There is hope that we can resolve this,” Gumi said after meeting with leaders of the terror groups.
“I appeal to the government and recommend that the government should do to them exactly what they did to the Niger Delta militants and give them a blanket amnesty.
“Then if anybody will continue, we will deal with him.”
On his part, the state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello asked the federal government to do everything possible to rescue the abducted students and teachers.
Governor Sani Bello decried the rising spate of criminal activities in the state, including killings and abduction.
He, however, reiterated that despite the daring efforts and influence of the bandits, his administration would never consider the option of paying ransom to the armed bandits to rescue their victims.
Meanwhile, Sheik Gumi, on Thursday, met with terrorist group leader in person of Dogo Gide in Tegina forest over the abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State.
Tegina forest is in Niger State North Central linking with Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna in the North West.
Gumi said his effort is to preach peace to the terrorists and to secure the release of the abducted children.
