Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s Thursday meeting with abductors of the 27 Kagara students inside Tegina forest bordering Niger State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State is currently setting tongues wagging on social media.
Recall that 42 students, staff and family were kidnapped by armed bandits early Wednesday at Government Science College (GSC), Kagara in Rafi local government area.
Later in the day, Sheikh Gumi arrived the state, met Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello and vowed to pay a visit to Kagara, where the students were abducted.
On Thursday, Sheikh Gumi met bandit group leader, Dogo Gide and his fighters for talks, during which the group reportedly laid down conditions for peace.
However, the bandits reportedly refused to have their conversations recorded.
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Recall that the popular cleric earlier visited bandit leaders in Zamfara State, and afterwards advocated amnesty for the bandits.
The demand led to mixed reactions. while Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and groups like Afenifere and Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) opposed it, the Zamfara State Government said it would continue negotiating with bandits to bring lasting peace to the state.
As photos of Sheikh’s latest meeting with the bandits circulated, Nigerians took to social media to react.
Read reactions monitored by this reporter:
Dear Nigerian Security Agencies, who is Sheik Gumi working for?
— Henry Shield (@henryshield) February 19, 2021
Kidnapping and banditry have become a means to empower some criminals from a section of the country
Sheik Gumi knows the location of bandits but our Military and police don't know. Who is fooling who?
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) February 19, 2021
Gumi knows where all these people are, so why are we still looking for them
— Ayobami Ayobami (@dondekojo) February 18, 2021
It appears Sheikh Gumi houses more intelligent information about these terrorists and their locations, more than the military
The only time the military is swift in action is when they're after the Eastern Security Network
Dialogue with terrorists, Bombard the ESN
— ᴋᴏɴʀᴀᴅᴇ (@Komrade_Konrade) February 19, 2021
Sheikh Gumi is meeting and negotiating with terrorists inside Nig's forest while minister of defense is meeting with terrorized people and telling them to fight terrorists armed with RPG with catapults and stones. @MBuhari, among these two, who should be your minister of defense? pic.twitter.com/9V26yL5TsC
— Souljah (@jeffphilips1) February 19, 2021
If Gumi can locate these dens of terror, then the government knows very well their location. Shows a deliberate non prioritisation of securing lives and property. https://t.co/4sWm94halo
— Fakhrriyyah (@FakhuusHashim) February 18, 2021
Again, sheik visited d bandits in Niger, we have to ask, who arranged the meeting? IG deployed special forces, PMB says we r on top of it, state Gov ran to Aso Rock, Army can't find their location, but one Gumi can take a ride to c them? Las Las e go cast!
@RBiakpara @MayUbeku
— ’Egbon'Oshotee🚨T-PACT (@MrOshotee) February 18, 2021