Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Kaduna Islamic cleric and former military officer, has denied allegations linking him to insecurity in Nigeria.
Gumi spoke during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT).
The cleric said he has never supported or encouraged violent activities in the country.
“I have no association, I don’t have any hand, I don’t do anything to encourage or to promote insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.
“I’m a peaceful citizen who loves his country more than anything.”
Gumi said his engagement with bandits was aimed at understanding their grievances and finding peaceful solutions to the conflict.
“That’s why I felt it was a duty for me to take the government along with me to go and see these people that are causing insecurity and listen to their grievances,” he said.
According to him, the federal government has relied mostly on military action instead of addressing underlying issues.
“Up to today, I have not seen one step taken towards alleviating the grievances except the kinetic approach,” he said.
The cleric added that some military officers had told him that force alone cannot solve the crisis.
“I’ve discussed with many military officers, all of them saying the kinetic approach is just about 25 percent of solving such kind of conflicts,” he said.
CONFUSION AT SAUDI AIRPORT
Gumi also spoke about his recent experience in Saudi Arabia after reports that he was detained over alleged security concerns.
According to him, Saudi authorities later cleared him of all allegations.
“Saudi Arabia, after full investigation, found me not wanting,” he said.
“The authorities exonerated me of all allegations and allowed me to finish my PhD in Islamic Studies.”
He explained that although he obtained a valid hajj visa in Abuja, immigration officials at Madinah airport could not find his details in their system.
“They said my name is not in the list of those wanted,” he said.
“But they don’t know why my visa is not there, so they said I have to return home.”
