A renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Gumi has revealed details of his meeting with notorious bandits operating in Zamfara State.
Gumi, who briefed Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State at Government House on Thursday, said that “what is currently happening in Zamfara is insurgency and not banditry”.
He stated that the bad treatment from the people of the state have completely turned the bandits into insurgents.
“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.
Gumi stated that most of the bandits were only carrying weapons and attacking people because of persistent attacks and harassment from the vigilante group known as the Yansakai.
According to the Islamic scholar, the bandits he interacted with during his visit had indicated their readiness to surrender their weapons and embrace peace if the Yansakai stopped attacking and killing them.
He praied Matawalle for introducing dialogue with the bandits as a means of ending banditry, calling on other governors to emulate him.
“Some people are of the view that the bandits should be fought and killed, but what we understand is that majority of them are illiterates who need proper education and enlightenment,” he said.
Naija News had earlier reported that the leader of bandits, Kachalla Turji, had stated that only reconciliation can end killings in the state.
Speaking during the Sheikh’s visit, he said members of the group are not afraid of death.
He accused the Nigerian government and Zamfara State government of reneging on a series of promises made to them.
He accused indigenes of Zamfara of impoverishing and beating Fulani on the road.
The bandit commander added that only God knows how many weapons they had and what they could do if they wanted to destabilise the state.