In a recent Facebook post, controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has raised alarm over the evolving justification for banditry in Nigeria, claiming that criminals now view their violent actions as a service to God.
Gumi’s comments came in response to the dramatic seizure and destruction of Mines Resistant Armour Personnel (MRAPs) by bandits led by notorious kingpin Bello Turji.
A video circulating since Saturday shows the bandits celebrating after setting fire to the military vehicles, a symbol of their increasing boldness and perceived legitimacy.
Gumi, known for his outspoken views on banditry, expressed concern that the conflict, initially rooted in ethnic disputes, has morphed into a more complex ideological struggle.
In his post titled “Radicalisation of Bandits: I warned against the danger,” Gumi criticised the government’s aggressive tactics, which he warned would escalate the situation.
“Initially, bandits were fighting an ethnic war that could easily be resolved,” he wrote.
“I warned if the kinetic approach is intensified, they will turn into ideologically motivated guerilla warfare. Nobody listened.”
He highlighted the shift from ethnic motivations to an ideological, religious justification for violence, drawing parallels with the Boko Haram insurgency.
Gumi concluded with a grim assessment of the situation, noting that the ideological dimension makes the conflict much harder to resolve.
