…Warns against ethnic tension
Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has condemned the arrest and public parade of suspected bandits by Yoruba ‘nation’ activist Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho), warning that such actions could heighten ethnic tensions and undermine national unity.
According to reports circulating on social media, Gumi cautioned against individuals or groups taking security matters into their own hands, stressing that the responsibility for arresting and prosecuting criminal suspects rests solely with law enforcement agencies. He warned that targeting people based on ethnic identity could inflame divisions and potentially trigger wider conflicts.
The cleric reportedly argued that while insecurity remains a serious challenge across the country, addressing the problem should be done through lawful channels rather than through actions that could be perceived as ethnic profiling or vigilantism.
The development has generated mixed reactions, with supporters of Igboho insisting that local communities have a right to defend themselves against bandit attacks, while critics maintain that security operations must remain within the framework of the law.
Gumi has previously been a controversial figure due to his engagements with armed groups in northern Nigeria, which he has defended as part of efforts to encourage dialogue and peaceful resolutions to the country’s security challenges. His comments on issues involving separatist and regional movements have often attracted national debate.
Authorities have yet to issue an official response regarding Gumi’s latest remarks, while discussions continue over the role of community self-help initiatives in tackling insecurity across different parts of Nigeria.
