Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has criticised Nigeria’s approach to tackling insecurity, arguing that the country is being misled by Western policies that reject negotiations with armed groups.
Speaking on the country’s security challenges, Gumi said the widely adopted stance of refusing dialogue with terrorists has not yielded results in Nigeria’s context. He warned that blindly copying foreign strategies could worsen the crisis.
“Nigeria is being misled by the Western slogan of not negotiating with terrorists,” he said, suggesting that engagement and dialogue should be considered as part of a broader solution.
The cleric, who has previously acted as an intermediary in talks with armed groups in northern Nigeria, maintained that negotiation remains a practical tool in resolving conflicts. According to him, “we have to be realistic” in addressing the country’s unique security situation.
Gumi also argued that authorities possess significant intelligence about insurgent groups, implying that structured engagement could help de-escalate violence. In earlier remarks, he noted that the government “knows every terrorist by name and location,” stating his belief that dialogue is possible.
