Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric Ahmad Gumi Warns of the Radicalization of Bandits into Boko Haram Ideologues
Kaduna, Nigeria – Influential Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has expressed concern that Nigerian authorities have inadvertently turned bandits operating in the North-west and North-central regions into religious fighters similar to Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east. His warning comes after a video surfaced showing the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, celebrating with his fighters after an encounter with the Nigerian military in Zamfara State.
In a Facebook post, Gumi highlighted that the bandits, who were initially involved in ethnic conflicts, are now adopting the extremist ideology of Boko Haram, turning their actions into a religiously motivated guerrilla warfare. He emphasized that while the bandits previously fought over issues of marginalization, their recent actions indicate a shift towards ideologically driven violence, making the situation more complex and difficult to resolve.
Gumi had previously advised the Nigerian government to avoid an overly aggressive military approach, warning that it could push these groups to radicalize further. His latest comments underscore the potential danger of escalating the conflict into a more entrenched and ideologically charged war, similar to the intractable Boko Haram insurgency that has plagued Nigeria’s North-east for over a decade.
The video in question shows Turji and his fighters chanting religious slogans and proclaiming victory over the Nigerian Army after burning down two military vehicles during an operation in Zamfara State. This incident highlights the growing challenge of combating banditry in the region as these groups evolve and potentially align themselves with the extremist ideologies of established terrorist organizations like Boko Haram.
