Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has spoken out following his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his comments regarding the activities of bandits in Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
Before the release of the abducted Kaduna School children, Gumi had faulted the Federal Government for the continued use of force or kinetic means to secure the release of victims of kidnapping.
According to him, the government ought to go closer to the bandits and study them to provide them with better living conditions, noting that the use of force on the bandits has turned them into monsters.
Gumi had also offered to negotiate with the terrorists responsible for the abduction of the schoolchildren, which caused many Nigerians to raise their eyebrows as to how he knew who the bandits were.
On Monday, the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that the Federal Government had invited Gumi for questioning over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.
Responding to this, Gumi said the invitation was necessary and revealed that he had a constructive interaction with the security agents who questioned him.
He took to social media on Tuesday to address the situation in a post titled ‘Only one person is above the law: The Innocent!’.
He reassured the public that there was no cause for alarm and provided insights into his engagement with the security officials.
Gumi’s post read, “Last night, I got many frantic calls from well-wishers and journalists about a news item that I was interviewed by security. There is absolutely no cause for alarm. Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry as we are all trying – each in his own sphere – to tackle the monster bedeviling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and full of respect.”
