Sheikh Gumi Tells FG How To Tackle Terrorist Group, Lakurawa

Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to set up a separate paramilitary outfit to combat the Lakurawa terrorist group in the North.

Naija News learnt that Gumi, during a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, said the ideology of the terrorist group is not different from every other fanatical religious sect judging by their activities and most recent mayhem in Mera Community of Kebbi state.

Gumi opined that the Nigerian military is not developed to fight terrorism, calling for the establishment of a separate outfit who are more familiar with the terrains than the soldiers sent to these embattled communities to tackle the Lakurawa sects.

He said, “There are some foreign superpowers in it because Nigeria is filled with many mineral sources in some areas that are fertile land. They come and cause mayhem so we can seek their protection afterwards.

“Our military is fashioned in the system of the British Army. It is not to fight a bandit but to fight another military. If the Niger Republic faces Nigeria, we will send our military.

“Military is a competition of firepower and we are expecting too much from them if we want them to focus on attacking bandits.”

Gumi also attributed the willingness of young people to join the sects to illiteracy and economic hardship.

He urged the Federal Government to establish schools like the Almajiri schools established by former President Goodluck Jonathan, and also make attempts at reducing the hardship and ensuring the porous borders are well secured.

He added, “Nigeria is already fighting several armed groups, including Islamist militants Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province and several bandit gangs. Another insurgency could further destabilise the region and suck an already stretched military into a long-drawn fight.”