Tuesday, 18 May 2021: The Nigerian cleric, who negotiates with bandits, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has insisted that the only method that can put a stop to banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria especially in the Northern part is through negotiation.

Gumi, who spoke at a reception he organized for the release of the 37 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Kaduna, appealed to the government to engage with the bandits so that they can abandon their ways.
The erudite Islamic scholar also stressed the need for government at all levels to engage the bandits, adding that the bandits were showing signs that they are ready for engagement.

 He added that, you don't negotiate with your friend but rather you negotiate with your enemy, he strives to draw the conclusion that sitting down together both government and bandits is the only solution to the issue of kidnapping, and banditry battling the country.

He said that, force should not be use toward banditry but instead psychological approach should be adopted because they (bandits) are people that have been into criminality act for a very long time. He believes that in preaching to them, admonishing them and showing the way out of their problems will help a lot in getting them understand and see the reason to release the children in their captivity.  

Gumi who laid emphasis on negotiation said, by convincing them and by making them understand the consequence of their actions, he beliefs that they would lay down their arms and turn a new leaf.