Sheikh Gumi urged the Nigerian government to rehabilitate bandits such as Delta Niger militants

The controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has asked Nigeria’s authority to rehabilitate the bandit Fulani as they did in the Delta Niger militant if they want a sustainable peace agreement to have a significant impact.

Islamic scholars based in Kaduna who made a call after a wave of peaceful meeting which was mediated by several communities between bandits and community leaders in several northern states, said the peace agreement with bandits must be respected for the real reconciliation to be achieved.

In a statement that he posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, Sheikh Gumi urged security agents and authorities not to damage the peace agreement but to assist in guiding the bandits towards a peaceful life, while drawing parallel with militant rehabilitation in Delta Niger by President Musa Yar’adua where the militants were filled by militants.

Also read: ‘If you kill 10 bandits, 20 will appear tomorrow,’ Bandit Leader tells the government during the peace meeting

He noted that the traditional rulers and the population of the community, especially in the state of Katsina involving bandits in peace negotiations, took the right steps in ensuring that peace was returned to their community and the like, the federal government and security institutions must follow in an effort to encourage dialogue and stability.

“Alhamdulillah. The news has come that today, the Sabuwa Regional Government also held a settlement of peace with bandits in the forest, to build peace in all regional regions,” he said.

“Those who trigger war, may Allah bring them down. And hopefully the security institution will avoid destroying this peace agreement, but instead teaches them how to live in peace, as is done with Delta Niger militants. May Allah bring us peace. Ameen,” added the ulama.