Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has described the mass abduction of schoolchildren as a lesser evil compared to the killing of Nigerian soldiers.
Speaking in a BBC interview shared on Tuesday, Gumi justified his statement by arguing that not all evils are of the same power, and kidnapping is less grievous than murder, particularly when victims are eventually released unharmed.
Gumi acknowledged that the abduction of minors is evil but insisted that it is a less severe crime than taking a life;
Kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely less. Killing is worse than, but they are all evil. It’s just a lesser evil. Not all evils are of the same power
He made reference to the mass abduction in Kebbi State, stating that the victims were freed without fatalities, thereby classifying the crime as less destructive than murder.
The cleric also defended his long-held view that dialogue with non-state actors is an unavoidable, practical strategy for achieving peace and stopping bloodshed.
Everybody’s negotiating with outlaws, non-state actors, everybody
Gumi challenged the “no negotiation” policy of the government, stressing that the concept is not found in any religious texts or practical experience. He stated that if negotiation will bring stoppage to bloodshed, it should be pursued for the interests of the nation as a whole.
He argued that the Nigerian military cannot shoulder the entire security burden alone, because their role is only 95% kinetic, with the rest requiring political and local government intervention.
He recounted that his past meetings with bandits, which concluded in 2021 after the groups were designated as terrorists, were conducted openly, with the knowledge of authorities, and with the press present.
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