Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has sparked discussions online after revealing his perspective on the root causes of violent behaviour among Nigerian herdsmen.

Speaking during a programme on insecurity and rural development, Gumi highlighted that most herders live in extreme isolation, cut off from formal education and economic opportunities.

He believes this disconnect from modern society contributes significantly to their behaviour and vulnerability to criminal influence.

He explained that the absence of schooling and structured employment leaves herders ill-prepared to understand government policies or relate to the larger population.

“If you pick ten young men, send them into the bush with cattle, cut them off from the outside world and return after a year, they will begin to behave like the animals they tend,” Sheikh Gumi stated.

The cleric further warned that these harsh living conditions make herders easy targets for manipulation by criminals and urged the government to prioritize education, communication access, and economic empowerment for pastoral communities.

Sheikh Gumi’s perspective adds to the ongoing debate on how best to tackle herder-farmer conflicts and other forms of rural violence in the country, emphasizing that social and economic reforms are just as critical as military intervention.