Former President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed that Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi informed him about the heavy fortifications of bandit hideouts during their recent talks. Obasanjo revealed that Gumi told him these camps are so strongly fortified that any claims by security forces to have infiltrated them are questionable.
Gumi defended his visits to the bandits, stating that he always travels with police and government permissions, engaging the insurgents in an effort to negotiate peace. According to Obasanjo, Gumi suggested that the government should consider granting bandits amnesty similar to that offered to Niger Delta militants to help resolve the security crisis.
The former president’s revelations underscore the difficulties security forces face in tackling banditry and reflect ongoing efforts to find peaceful solutions through dialogue with armed groups. This information sheds light on the complex nature of Nigeria’s insecurity challenges and the delicate balance required in negotiating an end to violence.