US Bombing Of Bandits In Nigeria Will Worsen Killings; Best Solution Is Negotiation With Them" — Sheikh Gum
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has criticised the United States over reports suggesting it might intervene militarily against terrorists in Nigeria, describing the U.S. as a “nation of liars” and warning that any bombing campaign would worsen the country’s insecurity.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Gumi said the U.S. has a record of deceit and destructive interference in other nations’ affairs, citing its failed war on terror in Afghanistan and the destabilisation of Iraq and Libya.
“America are known to be liars,” Gumi said. “They said Saddam Hussein had weaapons of mass destruction, and there were none. They have caused confusion in Iraq, in Libya, and everywhere. So when they say they want to help Nigeria by bombing terrorists, I don’t believe them.”
"So when they say Christians are killing, or there is massacre of Christians in Nigeria, from which side, they didn't specify whether it is the government, or whether it is the Muslims that are doing it. Or even if Christians are targeted, whatever it is. If Americans can cure and eliminate the terrorists, I will welcome it myself."
He added that if the same offer had come from China or Russia, Nigerians might be more inclined to believe in their sincerity, arguing that those nations “do not poke their noses into other people’s internal affairs.”
"If it's China coming to say that, people will believe it. Because China is not pokenosing into our internal affairs. If it's Russians, people will believe them."
The cleric warned that a U.S.-led military strike in Nigeria would lead to massive civilian casualties and deepen the country’s crisis.
He said, "But I know they cannot. Let me tell you, they have fought 20 years in Afghanistan, they could not finish them. Afghanistan is in Syria now.
"The same thing. And this terrorist you see, it's not easy to just come and drop bombs here and there, and think you've finished them. They have infiltrated the society.
"So it's going to cause more damage. More Muslims and more Christians will be killed if America would drop a bomb in Nigeria. I'm telling you this. And you can take it for a record. So what we are trying to avoid, we are going to even compound it. Look, myself, I have been trying to see how we can pacify these people.
"I've been going to see how we can pacify these people and redirect them. Because they are human beings. They listen and reason. But if you say you want to use force against force, then you will compound the problem and make the thing dirty," Gumi said.
He pointed out that the Nigerian military, despite years of combat experience, has struggled to defeat Boko Haram and armed bandits, suggesting that foreign intervention would only compound the problem.
"If Nigerian army, which has been very active in many hotspots, cannot deal with this issue for 15 years with Boko Harams, and now the bandits. And to me, the bandits are even more vicious.Because they are active,” he said.
Gumi, who has in the past engaged directly with armed groups in the forests of northern Nigeria, defended his controversial peace missions, saying dialogue remains the only viable path to lasting security.
When asked about his encounters with the terrorists, Gumi explained that his approach has been to understand their grievances and persuade them to abandon violence.
“You see, just to entice them to leave their weapons. You see, one thing good about it is, you see, you don't treat a disease without diagnosis. If a doctor can diagnose a disease, even if it's cancer, he will know how to manage it.
"So the good thing about it is now we have, before we are fighting a phantom, we don't know something is fighting us, coming to take us. We don't know that person. Now, by going to talk with them and sit down with them and to hear their grievances and understand their psychology, so we are able now to contain the problem.
"Now, Kaduna is relatively safe. I can say from, you don't hear any more mass killings now in Kaduna because we understand their psychology and the governor is cooperating. We are talking to them and they are keeping their weapons."
He added that while many of the armed groups still hold their weapons, they are no longer actively fighting, describing the process as “gradual but effective.”
“Slowly, we will civilize them, take away their weapons, and make them good citizens,” Gumi said. “But using force against force will only make things worse.”
The cleric reiterated his warning that any attempt by the United States to launch airstrikes in northern Nigeria would escalate tensions and result in needless deaths.
“I’m telling you, bombing will not solve this problem. It will make it dirty,” he said.
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