Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has explained why some bandits have yet to surrender their arms, leave their strongholds and embrace the amnesty being offered by some state governments.
Gumi said bandits are sceptical of the avowed peace talks of these state governments and they won’t surrender their arms until they are assured of their safety and rehabilitation.
He made the comment today during a virtual event hosted by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
The meeting was organised to discuss Nigeria’s security challenges.
The cleric has been advocating “blanket amnesty” for bandits adding that most of them took to criminality to register their grievances having been unjustly treated by security operatives and vigilante groups.
Some state governments have indicated willingness to offer amnesty to repentant bandits.
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has been at the vanguard of the campaign for negotiations with bandits.
He has claimed several times that the efforts have been yielding fruits in his state but despite his claim abduction, killings and allied criminality have continued unabated in Zamfara.
Recently, hundreds of students were abducted in Government Girls College in Jangebe area of the state.
Most of them have since been released.
