Gumi Warns Nigerian Military Against Provoking Terrorists Following Katsina Peace Talks

Prominent but polarizing Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has issued a stark warning to Nigeria’s military and security agencies: avoid provoking armed groups operating in the Northwest, even as fragile peace talks continue in Katsina State.

The warning comes on the heels of what sources describe as “backchannel negotiations” between intermediaries linked to Gumi and factions of bandit groups locally referred to as “terrorists” by the government, who have terrorized rural communities across Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna for years.

Speaking to journalists after Friday prayers in Kaduna, Gumi, who has positioned himself as a mediator in the crisis, cautioned that aggressive military operations or perceived betrayals could derail the delicate peace process.

If the army or any security agency takes actions that these groups interpret as betrayal or provocation, we risk losing the little progress we’ve made,” Gumi said. “Dialogue is not weakness. It is the only viable path to ending the bloodshed if all sides show restraint”

Gumi, a former military chaplain and son of the late Grand Khadi of the North, has drawn both praise and condemnation for his repeated outreach to armed gangs. Critics accuse him of legitimizing criminals; supporters argue he’s one of the few voices the groups actually listen to.

Peace Talks in the Shadows

Though the Nigerian government has not officially endorsed Gumi’s efforts, sources within Katsina’s State Security Council confirm that low-level talks have been permitted to proceed under strict observation following a spike in mass abductions and village raids earlier this year.

A tentative agreement reportedly includes commitments from some bandit factions to release hostages, cease attacks on schools and highways, and disarm — in exchange for amnesty, rehabilitation, and economic reintegration programs.

But trust is thin. And Gumi’s warning reflects a broader anxiety: that a single airstrike, arrest, or inflammatory statement could collapse the process.

Military Responds — Cautiously

The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Markus Kangye, issued a carefully worded response Saturday:

“The Nigerian military remains committed to protecting lives and property. While we acknowledge all efforts toward peace, our constitutional mandate to neutralize threats to national security remains unchanged. Operations will continue intelligently and proportionately”

Analysts note the army is walking a tightrope: under public pressure to crush the gangs, yet aware that military force alone has failed to end the crisis. Over 8,000 people have been killed in the Northwest since 2019, with hundreds of thousands displaced.

Public Reaction: Hope, Fear, and Skepticism

If peace comes, even from bad people, we will thank God,” said Hafsat Ibrahim, a mother of four in Katsina. “We just want to farm again. To send our children to school without fear.”

But others, especially families of victims, are outraged.

Are we now rewarding murderers with amnesty?” asked Umar Dikko, whose brother was killed in a 2022 raid. “Gumi is talking peace, but where is justice?