Gumi Says Kidnapping Children Is A Lesser Evil

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has stirred fresh debate after saying the kidnapping of schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of soldiers, insisting that Nigeria must engage bandits to prevent wider violence.

He made the remarks in an interview with the BBC released on Tuesday.

Gumi said abductions remain wrong but argued that some victims, including students taken in past attacks, were later freed without harm. He referred to previous mass kidnappings, noting that the release of children without deaths makes the crime less severe than murder, even as he condemned the act itself.

His comments come as Nigeria grapples with the abduction of 315 people from a Catholic school in Niger State. The Federal Government recently confirmed the release of 100 students, while another 50 managed to escape shortly after the attack. Gumi expressed sympathy for parents waiting for news of their children and said he hopes the remaining victims will find safety.

The cleric restated his long-standing call for negotiation with bandit groups, arguing that dialogue remains a practical tool for reducing bloodshed. He said governments across the world speak with non-state actors when necessary and questioned claims that Nigeria must avoid such talks. He added that his own visits to bandit camps were carried out openly and with approval from authorities and journalists.

Gumi also revealed that his last direct contact with bandit groups took place in 2021. He said he stepped back once the groups were officially designated as terrorists, after earlier efforts to unite different factions failed to gain federal backing at the time.

Discussing the wider security crisis, the cleric said Nigeria’s military cannot end the conflict alone. He argued that the fight involves social, political and local cooperation, not just military force. He described most bandits as herders facing survival challenges tied to their cattle, and urged Nigerians to distinguish between rural herders and urban Fulani communities.

His position reflects the ongoing tension between force and dialogue in confronting insecurity across the northwest, where kidnappings and raids continue to threaten communities.