Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, laments what he called the Federal Government’s increasing militarisation of banditry in the country, stating that a million Tucano jets will not solve the problem.
Gumi restated his earlier position that Nigeria has pushed the bandits to the wall and bemoaned the growing animosity towards the Fulani, saying while over 99 percent of them are good people, it is only an insignificant number of herdsmen who have taken to crimes.
He spoke at an interactive policy dialogue and cultural festival organised by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Sociocultural Association launched with the aim of addressing challenges confronting the Fulani ethnic stock in Nigeria.
The first interactive policy dialogue and cultural festival with the theme “The future of Fulani Pastoralists in Nigeria” was held on Thursday in Abuja.
Gumi said; “They (bandits) have been pushed to the wall. Somebody will say they are criminals, but I wonder who is not a criminal.
“When villagers would hear on radio that this governor or accountant has stolen billions, what do you expect him to do? He would steal too.
“My only fear is the infiltration of terrorists into their midst. I think it is something we have to consider very seriously.
“We have to go in and capture them from terror. And even the terrorists themselves, I think there has been some neglect.
“I discussed with a former president who told me that he has been to some areas where you have Boko Haram and that they are ready to lay down their arms with conditions, but the government of that day refused to accept those conditions.
“Up till now, Boko Haram is not a hopeless case. We have to protect our herdsmen from the infiltration of terrorists,” he stated.
