Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has lamented that he and other religious leaders can no longer engage in negotiations with bandits following the Nigerian government's decision to designate them as terrorists

Gumi, who is known for previously visiting bandits in their hideouts as part of peace and reconciliation efforts, made the remarks in a viral video circulating online.

The cleric criticized the government's approach, warning that branding all bandits as terrorists could further escalate insecurity rather than encourage peaceful resolutions.

“We don’t want to push them into terror beyond what they are doing now because it can get worse,” he said.

According to Gumi, some of the armed groups had shown a willingness to embrace dialogue, making negotiations a viable option for addressing the crisis.

“They have shown us their willingness to negotiate, so people that are ready to negotiate, why are you rushing to declare them terrorists so that you can use whatever weapons you bought?” he asked.

The Islamic scholar also claimed that, in the past, some bandits apprehended members of Boko Haram and handed them over to authorities in Zamfara State.

“Before, they used to catch Boko Haram members and present them to the authorities in Zamfara, but now they are all terrorists,” he said.

Gumi further stated that the government's stance has effectively shut down the only remaining avenue for mediation by religious leaders.

“Secondly, the only door that was remaining was for us clergy to go in and negotiate with them, and that is now closed permanently,” he added.

His comments come amid ongoing debates over the best approach to tackling banditry and insecurity in Nigeria's northern region, where authorities have increasingly adopted military measures against armed groups.