The Federal Government revealed on Monday that it has invited popular Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for questioning over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.
Before the release of the abducted Kaduna School children, Gumi had faulted the Federal Government for the continued use of force or kinetic means to secure the release of victims of kidnapping.
According to him, the government ought to go closer to the bandits and study them to provide them with better living conditions, noting that the use of force on the bandits has turned them into monsters.
Gumi had also offered to negotiate with the terrorists responsible for the abduction of the schoolchildren, which caused many Nigerians to raise their eyebrows as to how he knew who the bandits were.
Revealing Gumi’s invitation after today’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu, the minister of information and orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that Gumi has been invited over his recent statements about kidnappings in the country.
He also noted that the Federal Government has taken a firm stance regarding the controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, adding that no one is above the law.
The minister said: “Government will stop at nothing to get any kind of information that is required to solve our problems, the security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi or any other individuals are not above the law, if he has suggestions that are good enough and that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take but if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
“There is nobody that is above the law. Let me put it here. And I’m aware that he (Gumi) has been also a guest of security agencies to answer questions. When you make remarks especially remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on our national security to think further and they are doing just that, no one is above the law.”