Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended his proposal for a non-kinetic strategy to address insecurity in Nigeria, pointing out that some armed groups are willing to lay down their guns.
The cleric also claimed that if Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, exhibits true sorrow, he will lead calls for his release.
On Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Gumi stated that certain armed groups are willing to lay down their guns and that the government should take a non-kinetic approach rather than relying entirely on military force.
“We have people who are ready to put down their arms, so why do you always decide it has to be kinetic?” he asked, emphasizing the need for non-violent solutions in Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, and even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. Our army is not designed for guerrilla warfare; no army is designed for the kind of people we are facing now, no army is designed for it.”
He also stated that he would support amnesty for the IPOB leader if he shows genuine regret for past actions.
“This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed—if this same Kanu now will show remorse and also call for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him,” he said.
Kanu was convicted of seven charges of terrorism by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025.
Gumi cited historical precedents for pardoning high-profile agitators.
“Look, Shagari, our president, we are from the same town. Shagari gave amnesty to Ojukwu. Look at Umaru Yar’Adua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who have also committed acts of terrorism. So, this is how we are,” he added.
Gumi distinguished between community conflict and individual criminality when determining whether individual offenders should be reintegrated if they demonstrate repentance.
“You’re saying that it’s a communal clash; it’s different from individual criminality. That’s why, after the civil war, atrocities were committed from both sides, and over two million people died, and yet the engineers were pardoned… because it’s communal.
“But if it’s an individual killing an individual now, this law will come in. But when communities are fighting, who are you going to judge? So now we’re trying to stop bleeding,” he said.
Gumi called for a focus on peace and reconciliation. “We want peace in Nigeria, in every area. Wherever there is tension.”
