Sheikh Gumi Says Nigerian Army Struggling to Defeat Banditry

Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has declared that the Nigerian Army headquarters has not been able to achieve a decisive victory against bandit groups operating across parts of the country. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists during a public engagement focused on the ongoing security challenges facing northern Nigeria.

Gumi argued that years of military operations have failed to eliminate banditry, noting that attacks, kidnappings, and rural displacement continue despite repeated offensives. According to him, the persistence of the crisis suggests that a purely military approach is not producing the desired results.

The cleric called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security strategy, urging authorities to combine security operations with dialogue, community engagement, intelligence-driven policing, and socioeconomic interventions. He said addressing poverty, unemployment, and insecurity at the grassroots level would help weaken the recruitment base of armed groups.

Gumi also emphasized the need to rebuild trust between security agencies and affected communities, insisting that local partnerships are essential for meaningful intelligence gathering. He stressed that communities must feel protected rather than alienated if the fight against banditry is to succeed.

While acknowledging the sacrifices of soldiers on the front lines, Gumi maintained that systemic shortcomings at the coordination and policy levels have hindered success. He urged the federal government to adopt a more holistic, people-centered security framework capable of ending the protracted crisis and restoring lasting peace to troubled regions.