Popular Islamic scholar Sheikh Abubakar Gumi on Friday urged the Federal Government to give “blanket amnesty” to bandits willing to make peace.
“The Federal Government should give them blanket amnesty, then if somebody continues, then we will deal with them,” Gumi told journalists in Minna, Niger State capital.
The cleric had on Thursday night visited the camp of bandits between Tegina in Niger State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.
He quoted the bandits as saying they were being persecuted.
“The outcome (of my meeting with bandits) is very positive. We have many factions and each faction is saying I have complaints and grievances – we are being persecuted, arrested and lynched,” he said.
On the possible release of students and staff abducted from Government Science College, Kagara, Gumi said there is a positive response from the captors.
