The Department of State Security, DSS, has invited Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, for questioning over controversial remarks he made in a TV interview against the Nigerian Army, Voice Of America Hausa Service reports.
Gumi was invited at the Kaduna office of the DSS, after the military authorities took exception to comments by Sheikh Gumi, alleging that their operatives were conniving with bandits.
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However, Gumi’s spokesman, Malam Tukur Mamu in an interview with VOA Hausa, dismissed the allegation against Gumi, saying there was nowhere in the TV interview that Gumi categorically accused the entire military.
According to Mamu, what Gumi said was what people have been saying and “even the soldiers have been saying that there could be some bad eggs among them”.
He, therefore, urged the military and the TV Company to apologise to Sheikh Gumi and retract their statements against him or else he will seek legal action.
It could be recalled that in an interview on ARISE Television on Wednesday, Gumi had alleged that security agents played a role in the insecurity plaguing Nigeria by collaborating with the bandits who engage in killing and kidnapping for ransom.
The Nigerian Army had replied to Gumi, same day saying his statement is both sad and unfortunate.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, had said that “the sweeping allegation peddled by the scholar is not only sad and unfortunate, but a calculated attempt to denigrate the Nigerian military and undermine the sacrifices of our patriotic troops, who are working tirelessly to restore peace and stability across the country.
Gumi is known for making controversial statements regarding bandits and killer herdsmen.
On Wednesday, he had described bandits and killer herdsmen’s atrocities as “a tribal war,” accusing the government of taking sides.