Group calls for arrest of Sheikh Gumi over ‘romance’ with bandits, terrorists

Coalition for Peace in Nigeria (COPIN), a civil society organisation, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi immediately over his alleged liaisons with terrorists and robbers.

The group claimed, at a news conference on Wednesday held in Abuja, that the professor, who is headquartered in Kaduna, had been long overdue for arrest because of his friendship with the bandits and his constant demands that the Federal Government offer them amnesty and reparations.

The COPIN further stated that by this point, the DSS ought to have designated him as a person of interest and questioned him in the same manner as Tukur Mamu, his spokesperson and publisher of the Desert Herald.

COPIN’s National Coordinator and Secretary-General, Emeka Akwuobi and Hajiya Fatih Yakub, respectively, signed a communiqué at the conclusion of the discussion that stated that Sheikh Gumi had many explanations to share regarding the actions of bandits, particularly those operating in the North West region.

“COPIN insists on the immediate arrest, interrogation and prosecution of Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over his alleged fraternity and involvement with bandits and terrorists.

“While COPIN commends the DSS on the professional manner it has handled the arrest of an acclaimed kidnapped Abuja/Kaduna train passengers’ negotiator, Tukur Mamu, we also urge the Service to make Gumi a person of interest and immediately arrest him.

“We have watched with keen interest the provocative tendencies of Sheikh Gumi, especially as they relate to the activities of bandits/terrorists operating within the North West general area.

“Consequently, COPIN demands the immediate arrest and interrogation of Sheikh Gumi who should be a person of interest to all intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” the communiqué said.