Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has stirred fresh controversy after describing the abduction of schoolchildren as a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of soldiers.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the cleric said both crimes are unacceptable, but argued that they do not carry the same moral weight.
According to him, his comments should not be interpreted as support for kidnapping or criminal groups.
Gumi said: “Killing is worse than kidnapping, but they are all evil. Not all evils are of the same power.”
He also criticised the popular stance that governments must never negotiate with terrorists, stating that the principle is neither practical nor reflected in global conflict-resolution practices.
“That phrase, ‘we don’t negotiate with terror’ , I don’t know where they got it from. It’s not in the Bible or the Quran.
In reality, governments negotiate with outlaws when it is necessary to prevent bloodshed,” he said.
Addressing criticism that his outreach to bandit groups emboldens criminal networks, Gumi insisted his activities have always been conducted openly and often in the company of government officials and the media.
He added that his last direct engagement with bandits was in 2021, during state-led mediation attempts that were not fully supported at the federal level.
The cleric maintained that Nigeria’s security crisis requires a mix of military strength and political engagement.
He said the armed forces cannot resolve the situation through force alone, noting that: “The military’s role is about 95 percent kinetic. The remaining part depends on government, politics, and local communities.”
Gumi further described many of the armed groups as largely made up of Fulani herders involved in what he termed an “existential struggle” linked to cattle, inheritance and livelihood pressures.