Sheikh Ahmad Mahmud Gumi is one of Nigeria’s top Islamic clerics. He urges Muslims and Christians to collaborate with the international community to unravel the sponsors of Boko Haram insurgency. He says the North is under-represented in the Nigerian armed forces and warns that the imbalance could spell doom for the country.

Recently Amnesty International released a report linking the Nigerian armed forces with some atrocities, what is your reaction to that?
Sheihk Ahmad Mahmud Gumi: Amnesty International’s report came very late because we have heard and seen pictures and video clips of many atrocities before Amnesty publicised it. We have heard from officers and soldiers of such atrocities committed by some members of the Nigerian Army, especially in the North-east axis and even in the Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna State. Some people may argue that even the Boko Haram are engaged in inhuman activities by killing civilians and members of the armed forces, but there should be a difference between an outlawed group and a constituted authority. We don’t expect morals from an outlawed group. We have to work according to the laws if we want to win this war against terrorism. Innocent people should not be injured, as Amnesty is saying that most of the victims of this war are innocent people.
Before Amnesty International’s report, why were the clerics and other northern elders silent, or were they not aware of what was going on?
Gumi: This is the irony of the whole issue. I think the northern leadership is only reaping the fruits of their inaction. Leadership is a trust. When you sell it out, you have to bear the repercussions. Our problems in the North are being aggravated by these security challenges. We need to look and see who and who are in the army, navy, air force and other security outfits. The national conference that just ended ought to have paid more attention to that. Had it been they had done that, they would have discovered some unbelievable facts. Even this Boko Haram saga has some international connotations. There are many analysts, even from America, that are pointing accusing fingers on some foreign intelligence as part of those aiding this issue, because they want to break up the country. We have seen these types of tricks attempted to break up countries in order to siphon their resources. We have seen that in Angola and other countries, especially in the Middle East.
There is the local connotation too. There is a security outfit in Nigeria presently that is helping, indirectly or by inaction, the Boko Haram. We heard soldiers crying that they are not supplied with weapons to fight this Boko Haram. Foreign and local media have been reporting that. So, what we need is not a national conference; what we need is to seriously investigate what is happening in the army and the security services. Why can’t the National Council State, in which all former heads of state are members, sit down and ask the president about the composition of the security agencies. Every Nigerian should be represented in the army. If I am a Christian or southerner, I should feel well represented in the army and if I am a Muslim or northerner, I should feel well represented in the army. But I usually ask myself that who is representing me in the army and other security agencies: I can’t find an answer.
Is there anybody that is in the army headquarters that would ensure that I am not cheated? But I can’t find an answer. This is why many officers and soldiers are coming to me telling me the types of atrocities and massacres that are being committed against our people in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State and the north-east. So, what is happening in the armed forces? Some officers and soldiers are telling me that Christians are found among those killed or captured operating as Boko Haram and who is investigating that? This calls for serious investigation by an independent body. Where is the committee on armed forces of the senate? What are they doing? It is surprising after those allegations by Amnesty International and nobody constitutes an independent investigation. What is happening? This is a question that we have to address seriously.
Are you saying that part of the challenges facing this country has to do with the composition of the Nigerian armed forces?
Gumi: Yes, it has to do with that one hundred percent because the war is fought secretly. Therefore, this war has to be fought openly. If war is fought secretly, there would be room for manoeuvres’. Another problem about this war is that politics has come in. Everybody knows that a government that wants to suppress its enemies or region resorts to framing people up. We have seen that in Syria and other countries. People were agitating for democratic rule but the Syrian government started killing them and said they are terrorists and those people were forced to carry arms. So, government can sometime revert to suppressing activities just to give itself the laws and powers to oppress a certain society. There were such allegations in the past. During the (late General Sani) Abacha regime there were allegations that bomb was set up in an airport for the regime to have grounds to attack its enemies. There was similar allegation in 2007 when a vehicle loaded with explosives was said to be heading to INEC headquarters, just to frame some political enemies up. Therefore, government can be behind all these insecurities just to give itself power to suppress certain people. So, who is doing an independent investigation? Let’s bring in foreigners in collaboration with Nigerian Muslims and Christians to investigate all these allegations. If we do that, Nigeria would see peace in no time.
Just take the attempted attack on General (Muhammadu) Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as another example. The aim was to portray that Boko Haram has infiltrated the whole of northern states. But when you sit down and analyse that incident intellectually, you would find that the real Boko Haram has three degrees of enemies. They have the primary enemies, which is the government, military and other government agencies. They have secondary enemies, and these are those who are supporting the government. They have tertiary enemies who agree in principle with democracy. Then how can Boko Haram attack tertiary enemies and leave primary and secondary enemies?
If Boko Haram had attacked the convoy of the GOC in Kaduna or the governor or military barracks, one would have understood. But when they attack a person who is even against the government, it became very suspicious. Therefore, attempt on Buhari is an attempt to eliminate possible opposition, while attack on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was an attempt to give this insurgency a religious colour. We have seen political leaders that came out to oppose this government and its fight on insurgency but ended in disgrace. Nyako is an example. Everybody can remember the role of Nyako during 2011 PDP primaries. He made sure that they voted for Jonathan against his fellow from Adamawa, but simply because he said something against the government now he is on the run.
Remember what Niger State governor said about the alleged one-term agreement with Jonathan. Why has he come out to swallow that? Look at (Governor Sule) Lamido of Jigawa State, where his two children were linked with financial scandals. He had now found his level. Even the current Emir of Kano, who alleged that $20 billion were missing, had to backslide. He made the allegation at a time when we were searching for the sources of terrorists’ funding. How can Boko Haram sustain what they are doing if they don’t have money? Unfortunately, the emir had to retract because of certain interests. Therefore, those struggling to ensure the continuity of this government beyond 2015 should take lesson from Nyako, Niger State governor, emir of Kano, Jigawa governor among others.
Are you saying that in the Nigerian army there are no Muslims and northerners who can resist any hidden agenda?
Gumi: Army is a solid block that is based on orders. You don’t show your disagreement but you obey orders. This is how the army works.
Therefore, Muslims in the army should continue to obey the orders, but resist any order for the massacre of innocent people. It is not the duty of those in the army to fight for fair representation. It is the job of the politicians and all Nigerians. Let the government explain to me who is representing me in the army. In Nigeria, we have two types of politicians. There are politicians who have never been in the army and there are those who are retired personnel. When we speak to the former they would tell us that they don’t have interest in what the armed forces are doing. But look at countries like Egypt where the Egyptian army are supported from outside for the security of Israel. This was why Morsi’s government collapsed. Our politicians should begin to have interest in what is happening in the army for our safety and security. The imbalance in the army can consume all of us. Our fellows in this country are always interested in what is happening in the army. Some of their retired Generals are still sending lists for enlistment in any recruitment exercise. It is in this vein that we must continue to raise our voices for free and fair election for people to elect those they want.