Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has reacted to the circulation of an old video in which he spoke on relations between herdsmen and local communities, following renewed public debate and reactions on social media.
The reaction was conveyed through a post shared on Facebook on Saturday, December 27, 2025. According to the post, the footage was recorded during a security lecture delivered by Sheikh Gumi at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on November 7, 2021, before the designation of herdsmen as terrorists..
The post explained that the video, which has recently resurfaced, was being circulated without full context, prompting the release of the complete, unedited version to address what was described as misinformation. It stated that the lecture focused on internal security, national cohesion, and the risks associated with internal division.
In the video, Sheikh Gumi spoke extensively on the relationship between herdsmen and other members of society, emphasizing coexistence and warning against turning neighbors into adversaries. “The Herdsmen, they are going nowhere. They are part of us and we are also part of them,” he said. “We must live with them.”
He further stated that separation or displacement was not a viable option. “We can’t drive them away and they can’t also drive us away. They are our neighbors so we should never allow them to be our enemies,” Gumi said.
According to him, actions that foster hostility could have serious consequences. “And if by any mistake, by our actions, we have turned them into enemies, then we are finished,” he warned.
The cleric explained that internal conflicts could be exploited by external forces or hostile actors. “Because our real enemy will use them against us,” he said, adding, “As your real enemy will use your neighbor also against you.”
Gumi also highlighted the proximity and familiarity that neighbors share, stressing why conflicts at that level could be particularly damaging. “Nobody knows your secret more than your neighbor. He knows when you come back and when you also go out,” he stated.
He concluded the segment by reiterating his central message. “So, we should never allow Herdsmen to be our enemies,” Gumi said.
The accompanying caption by Sheikh Gumi noted that during the 2021 lecture, he warned about the dangers of internal division and explained how turning neighbors into enemies could expose the country to greater insecurity.
It added that recent events across parts of Northern Nigeria reflected what it described as the consequences of ignoring those warnings.
See the screenshot of his post below, click HERE to watch the shared video.
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