Gumi Supports Dialogue with IPOB and Bandits if They Lay Down Their Arms

 

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has consistently advocated for the Nigerian government to engage in dialogue with bandits and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), provided they agree to disarm and abandon violent tactics. 

Gumi argues that a purely military approach ("kinetic action") is ineffective for solving insecurity in the Northwest, suggesting instead a "holistic" approach involving amnesty and rehabilitation.

Here are the key points regarding Gumi's stance as of late 2025 and early 2026:

Dialogue Over Force: Gumi maintains that speaking to armed groups is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step for peace, arguing that many bandits are driven by a desire for survival and revenge due to past injustices, rather than a desire to overthrow the government.

Conditions for Peace: While pushing for dialogue, Gumi's position is that these groups must first be willing to lay down their arms.

Contrasting Bandits and IPOB: Gumi has differentiated between the groups, claiming that bandits are more willing to negotiate compared to IPOB, which he describes as secessionists refusing dialogue.

Gumi recounted a 2021 meeting with over 600 bandits in Kaduna, stating that they were willing to surrender arms in exchange for security and development, but claimed the deal fell through due to government inaction.

Meanwhile, critics and some government officials have faulted this approach, with some, like former Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari, arguing that bandits have previously used negotiations to deceive the government and re-arm.

The federal government has previously summoned Gumi for questioning regarding his comments on banditry, stating he is not above the law, though he has continued to advocate for this approach under the Tinubu administration.

Gumi's continued push for negotiation comes amid ongoing violence and mass kidnappings in Nigeria's Northwest region.