Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has credited a shift toward negotiation and non-violent engagement for major improvement in security across Kaduna State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Gumi said the state is now “90 percent better” after authorities began applying aspects of the peace-driven strategy he has repeatedly recommended for tackling banditry.
“My mission is a way we can get peace without bloodshed, and I think many people understand it now,” he said.
“Some governments are even implementing it and they are getting results.”
He explained that Kaduna is among the states where the change in approach is yielding noticeable.
“In Kaduna now, on the issue of banditry, people are getting better atleast 90% now Kaduna State is good,” he said, adding that the observed reduction in attacks and kidnappings supports his argument that negotiation can ease longstanding security pressures.
Gumi also stressed the importance of broad, inclusive engagement, saying “everybody in Nigeria is a person of interest” when building peace.
For years, the cleric has maintained that dialogue, rehabilitation and reintegration offer a more sustainable solution to banditry than purely military action. He has travelled into forests to speak directly with armed groups, insisting that many fighters are driven by marginalisation, poverty and cycles of retaliation.
According to him, states that are open to alternatives to force are beginning to see improvements, suggesting that a long-term peace is achievable when root causes are addressed.