Ahmad Gumi, popular Islamic scholar, says bandits have now worked out how escape air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force.
The Nigerian military have been carrying out both land and aerial bombardments on bandits in Zamfara and Kaduna States.
The cleric, who is known for speaking against attacks on bandits, was quoted by The PUNCH as saying in an article that the armed criminals said air strikes can only kill their family members but not them.
In the article titled, ‘War has never been a solution anytime, anywhere’, Gumi stated that bandits migrate from areas where the security agencies are engaging them to other places that are safer.
“What you may not hear is that the bandits over the years have developed escape routes from aerial bombardments. They told us, ‘you can only kill our women and children with your attacks”, he said.
“Just yesterday, two contingents of banditry victims came to me that their loved ones were abducted by bandits in Kaduna suburbs – Rigachukun and Keke.
“An escapee engineer in the later said when he overheard and understood that they were strangers in the area as they were calling the locals to lead them, that gave him the courage to slip through densely grown maize plantations to escape.
“The point is that, if Zamfara is on fire for them, it goes without saying that they will migrate to other areas. So, is the whole of Nigeria going to be under lock-up incommunicado?”
The Kaduna-based cleric said the solution to banditry is good intelligence gathering and policing.
“As for those cynics that have no value to add in the dilemma except vituperation, and abuses, we know that is the substance they are made up of. No qualms whatsoever! you don’t expect fragrance from faeces,” he added.
“So, what is the solution? Good Intelligence! Good proficient policing, engagement of the local herdsmen in policing, rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reparation of all victims of banditry.
“The good honest judiciary that protects people’s rights. Money and time well spent on these will surely kill the disease and heal the nation of this delinquency, crimes, and bad governance.”
