Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has denied all his actions were not in support of the activities of bandits.
In an interview published on Vanguard, the cleric said he is only trying to diagnose the bandits using his training “as a medical doctor”.
Speaking, Gumi said; “I am not supporting them. I am only trying to find a way out of the quagmire I saw. You see, my training as a medical doctor entails that I diagnose something before I recommend treatment.
“I am a person who likes to see firsthand, just like you came all the way to interview me. I want to see firsthand the situation that led people to do what they do. We know they were timid, shy but have turned into big criminals.
“So I ventured, I tried to see how I could get through to them, sit down with them and speak with them.
“This is exactly what I did. On getting there I got a lot of information which entails that if we want a permanent solution to this problem, we have to do what I have been advocating”.
The Islamic preacher had a while ago established a school for herdsmen inside a Kaduna forest while insisting that the provision of infrastructures to herdsmen in their remote locations could help in curbing their violent ideologies.
The Sheikh also denied saying there will be no Nigeria if bandits are declared terrorists, adding that he was quoted out of context.
He said insecurity in Nigeria, particularly banditry can become a thing of the past, as bandits are ready to drop their arms if education opportunities and other basic amenities are provided for them at the grassroots.
He named the school Sheikh Uthman Bin Fodio Centre, located at Kagarko Grazing Reserve near Kohoto Village in Kaduna state.
