Kidnapping Schoolchildren Is Lesser Evil Compared To Bloodshed – Gumi Tells Tinubu Government To Intensify Negotiations With Terrorists
Islamic cleric Sheikh Gumi has described the kidnapping of schoolchildren as a “lesser evil” compared to killing soldiers and innocents Nigerians, emphasising that Bola Ahmed Tinubu government must engage terrorists in negotiations to avoid greater bloodshed.
In an interview with the BBC shared on Tuesday, Gumi acknowledged that the abduction of minors is “evil,” but argued it is less severe than murder, particularly when kidnapped children are eventually released unharmed.
“Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely is lesser. Killing is worse than, but they are all evil. It’s just a lesser evil. Not all evils are of the same power,” he said.
He referenced previous incidents, including the mass abduction in Kebbi State, noting that the victims were freed without fatalities.
“So it’s a lesser evil than, like, what happened in Kebbi. They abducted children, and they were released. They didn’t kill them.”
Gumi’s comments come after over 315 people, 303 students and 12 teachers, were abducted in Niger State.
He also defended his long-held view that negotiating with terrorists is necessary, describing such engagement as a practical means to save lives and maintain peace. “Everybody negotiates with bandits,” he said.
“That word [‘we don’t negotiate’], I don’t know where they got it from. It’s not in the Bible. It’s not in the Quran. In fact, it’s not even in practice. Everybody’s negotiating with outlaws, non-state actors, everybody. So who got it, and where did they get that knowledge from? We negotiate for peace and our strategic interests. If negotiation will bring stoppage to bloodshed, we will do it.”
Gumi stressed that his previous engagements with terrorists were conducted openly and with authorities. “I go there with the authorities. I don’t go there alone. And I go there with the press,” he said.
He revealed that his last direct meetings with terrorists groups took place in 2021. He made extensive efforts to bring different factions together, but said the federal government at the time “was not keen” on the initiative. He added that after the groups were officially designated as terrorists, he completely withdrew from contact.
On the broader security situation, the former army captain argued that Nigeria’s military cannot handle the crisis alone.
