Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said that the Islamic cleric known for negotiating with bandits, Ahmad Gumi is playing his part to tackle the insecurity ravaging the country and would not be stopped by the military.
General Irabor, speaking at a ministerial briefing organised by the presidential communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that while the cleric does not work for the military, the military will not prevent anyone from contributing to the country’s security.
Gumi, a self-appointed mediator between bandits and the government, has been at the forefront of articulating the position of bandits wreaking havoc across the North.
The influential, but controversial, Islamic cleric recently stated that one-third of Nigeria’s budget for battling insecurity should be spent on bandits through techniques other than fighting, such as enlightenment and listening to their problems.
Irabor also announced that the military has received all 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets ordered from the United States.
The fighter jets according to the defence chief are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s military operations across the country.
