Punch Newspapers
Sections
Maiharaji Altine
A Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has decried the Federal Government’s use of force in the fight against what he called a typical insurgency in the North.
Gumi, who spoke in continuation of his five-day visit to bandits’ and Fulani settlements in Zamfara State, said the huge financial resources spent in the fight against insecurity in the region could have been used to address the needs of armed Fulani.
“Such billions would be more than enough if judiciously used to address all the demands of the armed Fulani, including providing them with basic amenities, training them and providing them with the needed capital,” he added.
Punch Newspapers
Sections
Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
The Zamfara State Government has said it is making efforts to build Ruga settlements for repentant bandits in some states. It said it already granted amnesty to all the repentant bandits who surrendered their weapons and embraced peace accord initiated by the governor, Bello Matawalle.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Publicity, Alhaji Zailani Baffa, said, “Following the amnesty arrangement, the state government has since last year granted amnesty to some bandits who were in detention at various Correctional Centres in the state just as the bandits also released some people they have kidnapped.
Punch Newspapers
Sections
Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
A renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Dr Aimed Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, on Tuesday visited some bandits in the forests of Shinkafi and Gummi local government areas of Zamfara State.
It was gathered that Gumi’s visit to the camps was to spread the message of Islam and peace to the Fulani herdsmen and rid the country of kidnappings and banditry.
Gummi and his entourage were said to have first gone to the forest of Tubali and Makkai in Shinkafi LGA which were under the control of armed Fulani herdsmen.
At the first settlement in Tubali Forest, Gumi was said to have met with about 150 armed Fulanis who expressed their grievances and why it would be difficult for them to surrender their arms.
Punch Newspapers
Sections
Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
A renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Dr Ahmed Mahmoud Gummi has said that “what is currently happening in Zamfara is insurgency and not banditry”.
Gummi, who briefed Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State at Government House today, said the bandits have completely turned into insurgents following the bad treatment from the people of the state.
“In most of the bandits and Fulani camps we have visited in Zamfara, I come to understand that what is happening in the state is nothing but an insurgency,” he said.
Gummi maintained that most of the bandits he came across during his visit to Zamfara forests were only carrying weapons and attacking people because of persistent attacks and harassment from the vigilante group known as the Yansakai.