PHOTOS: Sheik Gumi meets dreaded bandits leader, Dogo Gide at Dutsen Magaji forest over abduction of passengers, Kagara students, staff

Renowned Islamic scholar, Sheik Ahmed Gumi has met top bandits leader, Dogo Gide, among other top Commanders at Dutsen Magaji and Kotonkoro Forests on how to ensure the safe return of abducted over 40 students and staff of Government Science College with other abductees on Niger State Transport Authority bus last.

He spoke after meetings with the bandits in forests between Tegina and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state, on Thursday.

According to DESERT HERALD Publisher, Mallam Tukur Mamu who is a member of the Sheikh Gumi peace team, the meeting started with Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello who welcome the effort.

Also in the entourage of Sheikh Gumi that attended the meeting includes Prof. Usman Yusuf, Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Suleiman Adam and one of the leaders of Miyetti Allah, Shehu Buba.

Both Gumi and Governor Bello are in total agreement that given out ransom to the rampaging herdsmen is not the option and that government will resist it and that instead provision of basic amenities like schools, water for human and animal consumption, clinics and job creation will be prioritised for them.

Read Also: Niger releases names of students, teachers, others kidnapped from Kagara school

Gumi’s team had on Wednesday proceeded to Kontagora where they spent the night and proceeded to Kotonkoro on Thursday morning. Because of the bad road, the journey to Kotonkoro took Sheikh Gumi for about 5 hours.

The purpose of the difficult journey to Kotonkoro is to visit the dreaded Dutsen Magaji forest where the Sheikh has work tirelessly to secure a scheduled appointment with top commanders of the Fulani bandits that are terrorising Niger State and some parts of Kaduna precisely the notorious Birnin Gwari area.

The journey from Kotonkoro to Dutsen Magaji forest is about 50 kilometres and without any provision for road network. It took Sheikh Gumi, the SSG and members of the entourage another two hours before reaching the deadly forest.

The highly armed bandits under the leadership of Dogo Gide have strategically positioned themselves at the forest in case of any eventuality. Their faces and appearance demonstrate no mercy and easily sends fear.

During the preaching session, each of the bandits’ commanders were given the chance by Gumi to address the crowd.

They separately narrated their ordeal, their frustrations and why they resorted to banditry. They said they only accepted the invitation because they were told it was Sheikh Gumi.

The top bandits’ commander, Dogo Gide during his speech had lambasted Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his stand against dialogue and threatened the people of Kaduna state but Sheikh Gumi was quick to interrupt and assured him that all the governors of the North West are now in agreement that the Fulani herdsmen have been forgotten by governments for many years and that they will henceforth work towards giving the herdsmen special attention.

The SSG of Niger State who was in the Sheikh Ahmed Gumi peace team had also delivered the message of Governor Bello to them and assured them about his government’s sincerity and commitment to address their concerns and grievances.

He took note of their demands and grievances and promised to convey same to Governor Bello as soon as he arrives Minna for immediate consideration while Sheikh Gumi on his part will monitor the progress of implementation before the federal government steps in.

On his part, Sheikh Gumi took time to preach to them about forgiveness, peace and dialogue in Islam. He told them that in Islam there is no justification at all for reprisal attacks, killings, kidnappings and rape.

He admonished them about alcohol and drug consumption or taking the laws into their own hands.

He assured them that he will not deceive them and urged them not to disappoint him. Sheikh Gumi specifically pleaded with the armed Fulani bandits to immediately release all those they abducted particularly the recent kidnappings that made newspaper headlines across the country.

He assured them he will do whatever it takes to convince the president and the National Assembly to create a Commission for the herdsmen that will work towards addressing imbalances and injustice done to the Fulanis.

He encourages them to always seek Islamic knowledge and to be consistent in their 5 daily prayers. Gumi had distributed Islamic books and hundreds of wrappers for their wives. The items were contributed by the foundation under him.

Apparently satisfied with the sincerity of Sheikh Gumi, leader of the bandits, Dogo Gide assured him that he will not be disappointed and that on their part they will do everything possible to maintain the peace and give reasonable time pending when they are convinced about what government will do.

They complained of what they called excesses of local vigilantes popularly called Yan Sa Kai and how according to them they have been killing innocent Fulanis and warned that if Fulanis are not allowed to move freely without threat and molestation there won’t be end to banditry and kidnappings in the entire north. They took Sheikh Gumi to a settlement of about 1500 people and lamented how military bombardments destroyed the entire community, razed all the houses, killed and dumped bodies of the inhabitants in about three wells.

The bandits were seen as much more relaxed and very willing for engagement before the end of the preaching session. From interactions with them, there are indications that most of them are tired of living in jungle life, a life of exclusivity and lack of freedom. What most of them said they are missing much is the freedom to freely move around towns, market and to attend to their traditional and social events.

According to the Ahmed Gumi peace team, the top bandit commander, Dogo Gide promised Gumi that all those that were kidnapped either directly by his people or those he has influenced to talk to will soon be released.

It is expected that the Kagara schoolboys, their teachers and other passengers that were abducted in the state-owned passenger bus will be released any moment from now.

Solacebase reports that the Sheihk Gumi and his entourage had arrived Minna from Dutsen Magaji forest, a journey of more than 7 hours around 3.00 am on Friday.