Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has invoked divine punishment on individuals he accused of creating, enabling or ignoring Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Gumi made the remarks on Thursday while reacting to a viral video of a University of Jos student, John Arum, abducted by gunmen demanding a ₦30 million ransom.
In a Facebook post, Gumi described the perpetrators as having lost their humanity. He stressed that the country’s security challenges cannot be resolved through force alone.
He said, “Violence only hardens them; in fact, it is what created them in the first place.
“I thought that planting empathy in them through correct religious instruction would tame them… not knowing that the violence they exercise is what most people, including some government quarters, believe is the only answer.”
The cleric argued that counter-insurgency efforts should focus more on non-kinetic strategies such as dialogue, mediation and religious re-orientation.
He cited security experts who maintain that only 25 per cent of such efforts should be military-based, while 75 per cent should involve non-violent measures.
Gumi warned that insecurity remains a serious and widespread threat.
“There is no room or time for abuses, sentimental judgment, or conspiracy theories. The danger is real and anybody can be a victim tomorrow,” he said.
He also faulted what he described as the slow response of government institutions, noting that the gap created by inaction has empowered non-state actors.
The cleric, who has previously engaged in negotiations with armed groups in the North-West, maintained that dialogue remains a key tool in resolving the crisis.
Gumi issued a strong warning against those complicit in the situation.
“May Allah destroy any person who helped in creating this situation or participated in any form, or neglected his or her duty in saving the situation, or is even happy about it,” he said.
Arum, a student of the University of Jos, was abducted while travelling to Kaduna. A video showing him in captivity has circulated widely, triggering public outrage over his condition.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has condemned the abduction and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and Plateau State Government to secure his release, warning of nationwide protests if no action is taken.