According to a report by Daily Post, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi raised fresh questions over the possibility of opening dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits as part of efforts to end insecurity in Nigeria.
The cleric compared the current security situation in the North with previous peace initiatives carried out in the Niger Delta during the administrations of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
In a post published on his official Facebook page on Saturday, Gumi reflected on how the Federal Government previously engaged leaders of militant groups in the Niger Delta in an attempt to restore peace to the oil-producing region.
According to him, those efforts eventually resulted in programmes that helped reduce violence and improve stability in the area.
The Islamic scholar pointed out that former President Jonathan personally visited militants in the creeks of the Niger Delta as part of peace-building efforts.
He also noted that Osinbajo later held engagements with leaders in the region while serving as vice president.
Gumi explained that such discussions formed part of broader government strategies that eventually led to initiatives aimed at addressing the grievances of the militants and reducing hostilities.
Drawing a comparison with the present security challenges facing parts of northern Nigeria, Gumi questioned whether a similar approach could be considered in dealing with Boko Haram fighters and armed bandits.
He suggested that any individual willing to initiate such discussions would likely face criticism from sections of the public despite the intention of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
While making his position known, Gumi recalled the earlier engagements with Niger Delta militants as an example of how dialogue had previously been used as one of the methods to calm violent conflicts.
He appeared to imply that peace negotiations should not be dismissed outright simply because they involve individuals or groups accused of violent activities.
He said, “Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?”
The cleric’s comments have added to the ongoing national conversation about the most effective way to address insecurity across the country.
Nigeria has continued to battle attacks linked to Boko Haram insurgents, particularly in the North-East, while armed bandits have remained active in several communities across the North-West and parts of the North-Central, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents, kidnappings, and destruction of property.
Security experts, government officials, and stakeholders have continued to express different opinions on whether military operations alone are sufficient to tackle the security crisis or whether dialogue should also be explored in certain situations.
While some Nigerians believe negotiations could help reduce violence and encourage some fighters to surrender, others argue that engaging criminal groups may embolden them and undermine justice for victims.
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