Defence Minister Cautions Gumi, Others Against Supporting Bandits

The Minister of Defence, retired Lieutenant General Christopher Musa, has warned Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other Nigerians against offering moral, verbal or ideological support to bandits and terrorists operating in the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Musa declared that “a friend of a thief is a thief,” stressing that any form of sympathy or justification for criminal groups amounts to complicity.

He said the warning was deliberate and direct, noting that it was prompted by previous comments attributed to Sheikh Gumi, in which bandits hiding in forests were described as “our brothers,” alongside suggestions that society could not exist without them.

According to the Defence Minister, while compassion has a place in society, it must not be confused with excusing or normalising terrorism and banditry. He warned that such narratives only embolden criminal networks that have wreaked havoc across communities, displaced thousands of residents and claimed many innocent lives.

Musa emphasised that referring to bandits as “brothers” does nothing to reduce violence, but instead legitimises criminality and weakens national security efforts.

He further noted that terrorism thrives not only through weapons and violence, but also through moral cover provided by influential voices. “Anyone who excuses, defends or shields criminals—whether through words, influence or silence—shares responsibility for their actions,” he said.

The Defence Minister concluded that Nigeria cannot successfully defeat banditry and terrorism if dangerous rhetoric continues to blur the line between victims and perpetrators, urging Nigerians to stand firmly with the law and the nation in the fight against insecurity.