Nigeria’s security situation has continued to worsen over the years. What began as the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast later spread to the Northwest and Northcentral as banditry and kidnapping for ransom. Today, insecurity is no longer a northern problem alone. Cases of kidnapping and violent attacks are now being reported in other parts of the country, including the Southwest.
Despite huge spending on security and years of military operations, banditry remains a serious threat. This raises an important question: Are Nigerians making full use of every available resource in the fight against insecurity?
One person who has remained at the center of this debate is Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi.
For many years, Gumi has attracted criticism because of his contacts with bandits. Some commentators have accused him of being too sympathetic to them. Others have questioned why he meets with them in their forest hideouts.
But instead of seeing him as part of the problem, Nigerians should ask whether he can be part of the solution.
Who is Sheikh Gumi? He is a medical doctor, a retired army officer, an Islamic scholar, and one of the most influential clerics in northern Nigeria. He comes from Zamfara State and has cultural, religious, and ethnic ties with many of the communities where banditry has become widespread.
Because of these connections, Gumi has been able to gain access to bandits in ways that government officials, journalists, and even security agencies often cannot. He has visited their camps, spoken with their leaders, listened to their complaints, and urged them to stop violence.
Whether one agrees with his methods or not, the fact remains that very few Nigerians have such direct access to these criminal groups.
This is why Gumi should be seen as an asset.
Every successful security operation depends on good intelligence. Information about who the bandits are, where they operate, how they obtain weapons, and who supports them can be just as important as military force. Someone who has direct contact with these groups can provide valuable insights that may help security agencies understand and defeat them.
Unfortunately, public debate has often focused on one statement made by Gumi, that the bandits are his “brothers.”
Many people interpreted this as support for criminal activities. However, Gumi’s point was that they are his fellow human beings and, in many cases, share the same ethnic and religious background. Calling them brothers does not mean approving of their crimes. It means recognizing a connection that allows him to speak to them when others cannot.
History shows that governments around the world often use intermediaries to communicate with armed groups. Peace talks and negotiations have helped end conflicts in many countries. Talking to criminals does not mean supporting them. It means trying to find ways to reduce violence and save lives.
This does not mean bandits should escape punishment. Their crimes are real and their victims deserve justice. Thousands of Nigerians have been killed, displaced, kidnapped, or forced to pay ransom. No grievance can justify such actions.
However, solving a problem requires understanding it.
Through his meetings with bandits, Gumi has repeatedly highlighted issues such as poverty, neglect, lack of government presence in rural communities, cattle rustling, and tensions between herders and farmers. Whether these complaints are valid or not, understanding them can help policymakers, if they are serious, address some of the conditions that fuel insecurity.
Nigeria’s security crisis is too complex to be blamed on one individual. There are many actors involved, including criminal gangs, corrupt officials, informants, arms traffickers, and others who profit from instability. Focusing all attention on Gumi risks turning him into a convenient scapegoat while the real enablers remain hidden.
The truth is simple. If a person has access to violent groups and can help authorities gather information, encourage defections, or reduce bloodshed, that person should be viewed as a potential asset.
Sheikh Gumi should not be above criticism, but neither should he be treated as an enemy simply because he talks to bandits. In a country struggling with widespread insecurity, every useful channel of communication should be explored.
Nigeria needs results, not scapegoats. If Sheikh Gumi’s unique access can help bring peace, save lives, and weaken criminal networks, then he should be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Mustapha Shehu is the CEO of Veritas Media Limited and the Editor-in-chief of The Politico magazine. He writes from Abuja and can be reached at mshehu@veritasmedia.com.ng
