Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has addressed the rising insecurity in Nigeria, describing The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as more terror-driven than armed herdsmen.
Speaking during a public address, Gumi differentiated between the two, noting that IPOB deliberately targets security agencies and government institutions, while bandits primarily kidnap for ransom rather than intending to take lives.
“IPOB is attacking the police, army, INEC, and government institutions, killing our men in service. And the herdsmen are kidnapping children not to kill them, but to get money.”
Gumi further questioned why the two crimes are often placed side by side, insisting that direct attacks on armed forces carry a different moral and national weight.
He argued that although both activities are criminal, they differ in motive and impact, adding that they should be understood within the context of fairness.
“So how can you compare somebody who is killing our gallant men in the armed forces, directly attacking them, to somebody who is kidnapping children to make money? We need fairness in what we are doing,” He added.
Sheikh Gumi has long advocated for dialogue with armed bandits as a means of reducing kidnappings and restoring stability, an approach that has repeatedly fueled public debate and criticism.
His latest comments come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a worsening security crisis, marked by attacks on communities, abductions of schoolchildren, assaults on clergy, and rising tension across multiple regions.
Watch video below…
“The herdsmen are not like IPOB, they are kidnapping children to make money, let’s be fair with them.” – Sheik Gumi.
This depraved animal needs to be in jail.
pic.twitter.com/AYOeChr5jc— OurFaveOnlineDoc 🇬🇧 🇳🇬 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) November 23, 2025
