Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi on Wednesday, attributed the incessant banditry and herdsmen attacks across the country to tribal war.

“What you call banditry, when you cross to the other side, you find out Nigeria is fighting a tribal war,” he said while featuring on Arise TV’s programme.

Bandits have in recent times ransacked Nigerian communities, mostly the northern parts, raping, killing, kidnapping as well as destroying properties.

Mr Gumi who admitted that bandits commit atrocities, accused the government at all levels of taking sides in the raging attacks on Nigerian communities. 

“When you said these bandits are committing atrocities, yes, agree they are committing crimes – they are killing people, they are, they are raping, they are doing all sorts of atrocities.

“But, have you for once gone to their own sides and see all sorts of atrocities that are also committed against them?” He queried.

Mr Gumi claimed that herdsmen have been lynched across the southern region, while specifically naming Anambra and Oyo state.

The prominent cleric, who is on a self-imposed mission as bandits’ negotiator, believes that the government should be neutral, rather than taking sides in addressing banditry and herdsmen attacks.

“The moment government takes side, it becomes part of the conflict. And this is what I saw in Zamfara State, in Niger State and other states.

“This is tribal war going on and the government taking one side,” he reiterated, suggesting that “well-meaning Nigerians should stay neutral in this tribal wars.

“It is very unfortunate that in the 21st century because of the fracture in our governmental structure people have turned to tribalism or religion originality to express their grievances,” he lamented.

“I don’t speak for bandits as well I don’t speak for those committing atrocities against the bandits, I am trying to be neutral,” he stated.

Reiterating his stand that bandits be given amnesty so that they can surrender their arms, he admonished the government to provide them with sources of livelihood.

He described the amnesty granted to bandits by Katsina State Governor Bello Masari as “political amnesty without any package.”

Mr Gumi said “When you grant a political amnesty, I mean amnesty in the front of the press and the media but in the real sense there was no amnesty.

“Amnesty comes with a package,” he maintained, stating that “the package is that you rehabilitate these criminals, you provide them social amenities.

“You entice them to leave the forests by providing them with skills. But there is no project put forward.”