Islamic preacher Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has claimed that bandits are becoming more violent, blaming this to the government’s use of force.
Gumi proposed that instead of paying a ransom to free the victims, the authorities should speak with the criminals.
His remarks were in response to the recent kidnappings in Kaduna State and the kidnappers’ demand for N40 trillion as ransom.
In an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Gumi revealed this, claiming that they had simply offered the absurd N1 billion ransom as a negotiating chip.
The preacher added that the Nigerian government needs to adopt a new strategy in dealing with the problems of banditry and terrorism.
“I believe no ransom should be paid but engage these people, give them hope and not only in this children’s case. I’m so sad that the leaders are just realizing that it is turning into a war. It has been a war and not mere criminality. If we can see Israel and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners, I don’t see why we cannot negotiate.
“I support that the government should not pay any ransom but what I say is that the government must dialogue and from my knowledge about their psychology, that amount they are pitching is because they want to have a bigger bargaining power, otherwise, I don’t think in their wildest dreams, they would think the government would give them that money.
“What is happening now is that we are seeing that these bandits are getting more and more vicious. Before now, they didn’t do what they do now. We can only attribute that to the kinetic approach which is over emphasized. When we hear the politicians talk, nothing is done about it to overcome these people. For example, now we are fighting bandits,” he said.
