Controversial Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has vehemently rejected claims that certain individuals are sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria, asserting that the bandits responsible for the nefarious activities are self-sufficient through their criminal endeavours.
In a recent appearance on Daily Trust X Space, Sheikh Gumi categorically refuted the notion that the bandits require external financial support, stating,
“These terrorists (bandits) don’t need any financial support from outside since they collect billions from kidnapping,” he said.
His remarks come in the wake of the Nigerian government’s identification of 15 entities allegedly involved in financing terrorism, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms.
One of them, Tukur Mamu, is a close ally of Sheikh Gumi.
Addressing the issue, Sheikh Gumi emphasized that only the court of law has the authority to declare anyone a terrorism financier, urging the government to focus on addressing the root causes of banditry and kidnapping rather than attributing blame to political opponents.
He criticized the notion of framing political opponents as terrorism financiers, adding that, “No Nigerian will put his money in terrorism, we’re beyond that.”
“So, how can we say some people are financing terrorism because there is a misunderstanding between them.”
