Analysis
WHY SHEIKH GUMI SHOULD BE ARRESTED AND CHARGED TO COURT OVER HIS CALLS FOR AMNESTY FOR BANDITS AND TERRORISTS
Friday lines (94) With
Dr Abubakar Alkali
1/12/25
_‘Bandits and Terrorists Will Continue Tormenting and Killing Innocent People as Long as they See People Like Sheikh Gumi Being Paraded as Heroes’_
In my article published 28th June 2023 after the arrest of Tukur Mamu, the self-acclaimed terrorist negotiator titled ‘Why Sheikh Gumi Should be Arraigned With Tukur Mamu’ I called for the arrest of his principal, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi over his constant call for negotiation with bandits and terrorists.
By his constant calls for amnesty for terrorists, Sheikh Gumi is knowingly promoting the current killings and mayhem perpetrated by these bandits and terrorists.
The chairman, Arewa consultative forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu was wrong to have also called for amnesty for bandits and terrorists, following the footsteps of Sheikh Gumi. The case of the amnesty for Niger Delta terrorists granted by late President Umar Musa Yar Adua is completely different from that of bandits and terrorists because while the former fights the government for resource control, the latter kills, mains, displaces and rapes innocent people. Niger Delta terrorists do not kidnap or kill their own people but bandits kidnap and kill innocent people. The agitation by Niger Delta militants is political while the activities of bandits are purely political.
The calls for amnesty for bandits by Sheikh Gumi and his cotravellers energizes and encourages the bandits to step up the killings scrips all parts of Nigeria. Sheikh Gumi was wrong to insinuate that bandits were ‘neglected’ by the government hence they took to kidnapping and terrorism. This is a lie from the pit of hell because bandits are just criminals and terrorists not even interested in going to any schools or having good roads or hospitals or anything but ransom payment from their captives. How about all the tribes in Nigeria especially in the remote areas without schools and hospitals, why didn’t they take up arms and start kidnapping and killing innocent people because they don’t have schools? Why is it that only the Fulani bandits take up arms to kidnap and kill the innocent sometimes even after collecting a ransom?
Clearly, the Fulani bandits have identified banditry as a JOB CREATION option for them so they will never stop until when they are taught a lesson. Until our military proves to them that there is a government in Nigeria.
The military must fight the war against bandits and terrorists the way they (military) fought and won the Biafra war in 1966-1970 to stand any chance of crushing these rebels before they bring down the whole nation.
Since 2021 when Shekh Gumi started his misplaced calls for amnesty for bandits and terrorists, what we have seen is a huge increase in the number of those kidnapped and killed across Nigeria. Instead of abating, the problem is always multiplying. Now the bandits and terrorists are back to abducting innocent schoolchildren as seen in Kebbi and Niger states some of them as young as 7 years old. The 315 schoolchildren kidnapped by these bandits and terrorists in St Mary’s school Papiri Niger state last week are still in captivity while the 25 schoolgirls kidnapped two weeks ago were released just recently.
Clearly, Sheikh Gumi’s call obviously jeopardises the excellent work by our gallant soldiers against the terrorists. Gumi’s call also runs counter to the provisions of the constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws which provides that bandits and terrorists should face justice and not given amnesty. While our gallant soldiers are busy fighting these terrorists, Sheikh Gumi is busy calling for amnesty for them and adding that the terrorists have not done anything wrong and are only ‘responding’ to government neglect.
Now is the time to arrest Sheikh Gumi and put him on trial even if to serve as a deterrent to other wannabes who use their social status and religion to encourage terrorism against their own people.
Nobody is above the law.
Recall that on 26th May this year, the Saudi Arabian authorities denied Sheikh Gumi entry into their country and promptly deported him to Nigeria. This action may not be unconnected to his alleged views and propositions on global terrorism. Serious countries are taking the right, hard decisions to provide security to their people while we in Nigeria, overwhelmed by terrorists and killed daily by these criminals, continue to procrastinate.
If Tukur Mamu, Sheikh Gumi’s man Friday can be arrested and put on trial in a court of competent jurisdiction for serving as negotiator to bandits and terrorists, why should sheikh Gumi not be arrested? If Sunday Igboho could be sent on forced exile for a long time and Nnamdi Kanu could be convicted for terrorism and being a threat to national security and clamped with a life sentence, why should sheikh Gumi not be arrested, charged to court and given the chance to defend himself against allegations of links to bandits and terrorists?
Why should Bello Matawalle still retain his seat as minister of state defence despite the groundswell of allegations of links to bandits and terrorists?
Or are we going to wait for President Trump to come to Nigeria to name and shame the sponsors of terrorism before the Tinubu administration releases the long list of sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria? The Tinubu administration has maintained that they have a list of sponsors of terrorism. Why not release the list even if to preempt President Trump’s own list which may not be totally correct? Relese your list first so that if Trump releases his own list and there are any discrepancies, you can do a reconciliation
Again in my article dated 9th February 2021 and titled ‘Sheikh Gumi’s Insecurity Shuttles, Thanks But No Thanks’ I was certain that Sheikh Gumi’s insecurity shuttle to several forests where he physically met with bandit kingpins such as Bello Turji, Dogo Gide etc, will not achieve any meaningful results.
If anything, Sheikh Gumi is emboldening the bandits and giving a psychological advantage to the terrorists by calling for amnesty and giving them a false impression that he can secure amnesty for them from the government.
Sheikh Gumi’s journeys to meet bandits and terrorists in their hideouts in the forests will not achieve any meaningful objective.
I was certain that Sheikh Gumi’s shuttles to the bandits will not work but could turn out to be a morale booster for kidnappers, bandits and terrorists to continue their killings, rape, displacements and destructions. These guys can bring down the nation if they are not crushed immediately.
The bandits will pretend that they have heard the Sheikh but will not bow to his misplaced pleas for peace. Calling for amnesty for killers, kidnappers is unconstitutional and amounts to treasonable felony. Sheikh Gumi should be tried for treason against Nigeria.
The number of victims from bandits and terrorists attacks in Nigeria is alarming:
A. 490 people were kidnapped for ransom within 2 weeks 14th – 29th November 2025.
B. 98,083 killed in 12 years.
C. 27,311 persons killed between 2015-2019.
D. 35,800 killed between 2019 and May 2023
E. 134 killed in the week 29 May- 7 Jun 2023.
How could anyone think of granting amnesty to killers? The bandits who killed, raped and maimed innocent people? How about those innocent people they killed including children, university students, pregnant women etc? Don’t these victims deserve justice?
My article of 20th January 2020 titled ‘Amnesty for kidnappers, bandits and terrorists as a red herring and wild goose chase’ also underscored the futility of granting any amnesty to bandits and terrorists. Amnesty will never work for any terrorist including bandits, Niger Delta militants and terrorists and IPOB secessionists and terrorists.
These criminals do not understand the language of peace so you don’t take peace to them. You speak to them in the language they understand. You direct them along the route they are familiar with, which is military force.
You allow the military and other security agencies to do their work. If the federal government and/or the security agencies need you to mediate, they will tell you but you don’t jeopardise our military’s counter-insurgency operations by engaging in unsolicited offers for peace to criminals who killed many including women and children when the 1999 constitution and other extant laws of the land are clear that a criminal who kidnaps, kills, rapes and displaces people from their homes and farms should face justice.
Quite honestly, Sheikh Gumi should leave security issues to the military and float a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are scattered in his own hometown Gumi as a result of the criminal activities of bandits. As a matter of fact, Gumi town, the ancestral home of our Sheikh Gumi is literally overflowing with IDPs. Bandits rule in several villages in Gumi local government area such as Gamo, Bardoki, Gayari, DanAmo, Falale, Gambanda and Gabtu to mention but a few. The hardworking farmers in these villages cannot go to farms thus triggering a major food crisis in the area. Recently, the criminals collected N30 million ‘bandits levy for peace’ from the helpless villagers in Gabtu, a village very close to Gumi town on the Gumi-Kajiji major road.
The internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gumi, Sheikh Gumi’s hometown in Zamfara state are taking refuge in make-shift buildings or in the open at the mercy of heavy rainfall with devastating consequences. Sheikh Gumi’s plea to bandits will not help these innocent women and children turned IDPs.
Sheikh Gumi can do better by deploying his local and international connections to register an NGO with the corporate affairs commission (CAC) and mobilise funds for these innocent victims including women and children in his own ancestral Gumi town.
Sheikh Gumi has never visited these IDPs in his hometown Gumi but has had the time to visit bandits Bello Turji, Dogo Gide and other bandits and terrorists in remote forests.
It will be helpful if the Sheikh can visit these IDPs in his hometown Gumi with some tangible assistance in cash or in kind and to offer them reassurances and to brief them on the steps that he is taking to help bring peace to Gumi local government area and Nigeria at large. The Sheikh is reported to have built a school in a fulani village along the Abuja – Kaduna expressway. Good!
Every form of assistance is urgently required by the IDPs in Gumi town, Zamfara state.
The highly unpopular ‘insecurity shuttles’ of Sheikh Gumi and his team cannot be decoupled from the activities of Tukur Mamu as the terrorists’ ‘negotiator-in-chief’ for the terrorists that attacked the Abuja – Kaduna train on 28 March 2022.
Yes we are all happy that the victims of the Abuja – Kaduna train attack were eventually released by the terrorists after huge ransom payment. Quite honestly, all objective minds including yours truely are happy that the audacious train attack have been released by the terrorists. However, the right thing to do is to stop these terrorist attacks rather than respond and negotiate when they happen.
For how long is Nigeria going to act rather than pro-act against these bandits and terrorists?
If the security agencies want to dig into Mamu’s alleged illegal activities, it must speak to Sheikh Gumi. As a matter of fact, prosecuting Tukur Mamu and allowing Sheikh Gumi to roam the streets freely is akin to arresting Sambo Dasuki over the alleged $2 billion arms scandal and leaving out former President Goodluck Jonathan. At the end of the day, no concrete achievement was made.
Although Tukur Mamu, Sheikh Gumi’s man Friday is currently being prosecuted on terrorism charges, these charges can still be amended to include Sheikh Gumi in the trial.
The security agencies need to dig in further by arresting Sheikh Gumi and going after whoever is culpable in this calamity called banditry in Nigeria instead of going for the software while the hardware roams the street freely.
Nothing can be further from the truth, the security agencies have done well by arresting Mamu and arraigning him before a court of competent jurisdiction to defend himself. What Nigerians expect is that Mamu and Sheikh Gumi should be charged to court together to answer any allegations against them.
Sheikh Gumi who was able to locate the bandits where even the most advanced computer technology couldn’t, has never been arrested by the security agencies and charged to court to explain why he is encouraging bandits and terrorists who kill the innocent.
The Tinubu administration must take hard decisions to end terrorism in Nigeria.
President Tinubu should always remember that the largely unchecked activities of Boko haram literally brought down the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2015. The current unchecked activities of bandits could equally be the deciding factor for voters in the 2027 Presidential election.
Dr. Abubakar Alkali is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Baze University.
Analysis
Ozoro Festival Scandal Sparks National Debate on ‘Weaponised Traditions’ and Cultural Reform
The controversy surrounding the Ozoro Festival in Delta State has ignited a nationwide debate over harmful cultural practices, following viral videos showing acts of sexual violence and widespread outrage across Nigeria.
The scandal has led to the arrest of six suspects by the police, including a community leader, but many Nigerians argue that the response falls short of justice and fails to address deeper cultural issues.
Critics have described the Ozoro Alue-Do Festival as a “weaponised tradition,” accusing it of reinforcing misogyny and enabling abuse under the guise of cultural celebration. Some members of the Isoko community, however, insist the issue is being misrepresented.
A female indigene, who spoke anonymously, condemned what she described as systemic discrimination against women within the culture, alleging that harmful practices are often excused and victims silenced.
“Women are blamed even in cases of abuse, while perpetrators are shielded,” she said, pointing to long-standing traditions that, in her view, enable injustice.
But cultural analyst Anote Ajelouruo cautioned against sweeping generalisations, arguing that the festival’s origins must be understood within historical context.
He noted that fertility rites were common in many ancient societies and said isolated incidents of misconduct should not define an entire cultural heritage.
“Every society had practices shaped by limited knowledge at the time. What matters is ensuring such traditions are not hijacked or abused,” he said.
Lessons from Ibadan
Observers say reform is possible, pointing to the transformation of the Oke’Badan Festival in Ibadan, which has evolved from a chaotic and unsafe event into a structured cultural celebration.
Journalist and historian Temilade Adeyemi recalled that the festival was once notorious for harassment of women, with vulgar displays and public misconduct.
Today, however, it is widely regarded as a symbol of cultural pride, featuring organised performances and safer participation for women.
Path to Reform
Experts say any attempt to reform the Ozoro Festival must be driven by the community, with traditional leaders playing a central role in redefining its purpose.
They also stress the importance of accountability, urging authorities to ensure that those arrested are prosecuted to rebuild public trust.
Increased participation of women in planning and decision-making is seen as critical to reshaping the festival into a safer and more inclusive event.
Analysts further recommend sustained public education and media engagement to highlight positive cultural values while discouraging harmful practices.
Uncertain Future
Despite the outrage, questions remain over whether meaningful reform will take place or if the festival will continue to attract criticism.
For now, attention remains on both community leaders and law enforcement authorities, as Nigerians watch closely to see whether the incident will mark a turning point or another missed opportunity for change.
By AVM Rtd Akugbe Iyamu MNSA fsi
Extreme weather conditions are unexpected, unusual or severe weather events that fall outside normal patterns, often causing significant disruption, damage to infrastructure, and environmental destruction.
Examples include heatwaves, intense hurricanes, flooding, severe droughts, and tornadoes. These events are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Nigeria is a country perpetually under elections frenzy: campaigning, off cycle and other electoral activities. These political manifestations always offered little attention to key areas of the environment that threatens economic growth and development, security and poverty, inequality and hunger. As of early 2026, Nigeria hosts over 3.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) driven from their homes by conflict, insecurity, and climate disasters. The vast majority of this displacement is concentrated in the North-East and North-West regions, with around 3,900 camps and host communities providing temporary shelter. Currently, Africa is experiencing intensified extreme weather events driven by climate change, primarily manifested as severe droughts, devastating floods, and extreme heatwaves. These events, such as the 2020-2023 Horn of Africa drought and 2024 regional flooding, are becoming more frequent, severely impacting food security, agriculture, and infrastructure.
For instance the death situation in Kenya has risen to 66 and Ethiopia 125 deaths with 11,000 displaced. This is a clear and present danger to Africa and is likely to stretch the existing response measures. At this point NIHSA, NiMet and other agencies need to be called out to show visible signs to the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction. At this point, the country need more emphasis in advising all stakeholders to shift from reactive to proactive climate-informed planning to ensure food security and protect infrastructure. Nigeria need to step up preparation against what we see coming as extreme weather in 2026. From the situations in Ethiopia and Kenya, it is obvious that 2026 will be characterized by variable rainfall and cyclone bomb. We have seen prolonged dry spells, and higher-than-average temperatures early in the year that have threatened the health and security of Nigerians. Based on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) unveiled by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on February 10, 2026, the country need to do more. Judging from the heavy snow in the northern hemisphere, nigeria need key preparations that include using AI for better forecasting, tailored agricultural advice, and flood warning systems.
2026 should not be treated like other years. With insecurity, poverty, inequality, high taxation, higher borrowings and higher energy costs, negligence will unravel the economy and underbelly of Nigeria energy security system. Time to act is now because there are too many negatives conflating the country and we have to solve the issues of environmental challenges because when you lack the structure, you attract rupture.
The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be promoting the dissemination of the SCP to local farmers to ensure it directly informs field decisions.
AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi
CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS
FFK Raises Fresh Questions Over El-Rufai’s Actions, Security Allegations
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has again raised concerns about the actions and statements of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing some of them as matters that require clarification in the interest of national security.
In a lengthy statement titled “More Questions for Nasir El-Rufai,” Fani-Kayode said he was still awaiting answers to several issues he had previously raised regarding El-Rufai’s conduct while serving in public office.
He also expressed sympathy after reports that El-Rufai allegedly suffered a nosebleed while in detention, noting that he hoped the former governor would soon respond directly to the questions raised.
Fani-Kayode accused the former governor of carrying out several demolition exercises during his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and later as governor of Kaduna State, claiming that the actions affected residential buildings, communities and facilities, including some used by vulnerable groups.
He further alleged that some of the demolitions occurred close to the end of El-Rufai’s tenure in May 2023, including operations reportedly conducted by the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority in areas such as Gbagyi Villa and other communities.
According to him, critics had described the demolitions as vindictive, while affected residents alleged that some structures were removed despite legal disputes over the properties.
The former aviation minister also raised issues relating to policies implemented during El-Rufai’s administration in Kaduna State, including restrictions on certain religious activities and the suspension of state-sponsored pilgrimages at the time.
Fani-Kayode additionally referenced tensions between El-Rufai and some political figures, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, claiming the relationship deteriorated after the former governor left office.
Beyond the political issues, the statement also touched on security-related concerns, particularly allegations surrounding the bugging of phones and claims involving the possible importation of a toxic substance.
Fani-Kayode said such matters, if true, could pose serious national security implications and called for relevant security agencies to investigate thoroughly.
He expressed confidence that institutions such as the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Police Force, and other intelligence bodies would look into the allegations and determine the facts.
Fani-Kayode maintained that his remarks were intended to raise questions and encourage transparency, emphasizing the need for clarity on issues that could affect national stability and public confidence.