Tackling banditry: A look at Sheikh Ahmed Gumi’s novel peace initiative

From time immemorial mankind has challenges of poverty, injustice, inequality, insecurity, and several others too numerous to mention. Governments and indeed leaders over the years used several mechanisms to address these challenges with varying degrees of successes and in many monumental failures. Our religion Islam, which means peace has the most realistic, sincere and time-tested […]

From time immemorial mankind has challenges of poverty, injustice, inequality, insecurity, and several others too numerous to mention. Governments and indeed leaders over the years used several mechanisms to address these challenges with varying degrees of successes and in many monumental failures.

Our religion Islam, which means peace has the most realistic, sincere and time-tested mechanism of conflict resolution, terms and conditions to be observed so as to live in peace and harmony no matter the extent, level and or degree of diversity in society. Indeed our Prophet has exemplified this during his life as he lived in total tranquility with Jews and Christians devoid of rancour, ill feelings, suspicion or injustice despite being in a leadership position. Equity, justice, fairness and above all transparency were the order of the day while Muslims were in leadership positions.

• As IGP Adamu retires on Monday: Buhari to appoint new police boss
• Bandits from Kaduna, Niger, Yobe surrender 14 rifles, ammunition to Zamfara gov’t

Over the years, however, society’s metamorphosis brought about lopsided actions, transgressions, nepotism and above all unfair treatment of people leading to many being aggrieved as a result of the somewhat perceived rightly or wrongly maltreatment of certain part or class of people.

While many citizens who are somehow denied of means of livelihood and the society appear not to have any means of accommodation retreat to live abject poverty, malnourished, hungry and with ill health, many decide to vent their anger on almost anyone they come across irrespective of whether he or she is part of the oppressors as our leaders or those who are perceived to be rich ie the haves are called.

A certain stage of conflagration, anarchy, chaos and total breakdown of law and order is either in the offing or already happening in several societies from Asia to Latin America,  Europe to Africa, the Middle East to America in everywhere and anywhere. Some of the causes of these challenges are political, economic, tribal, cultural, land and or religious to mention but a few of the known factors.

As stated earlier, humanity developed several mechanisms to deal with these challenges but most, if all still exists. American societies are not safe from organised crimes and bandits nor is Italian society cleared of gangsters and organised crimes. The ecosystem of members of the underworld transcends continents and boundaries, race and religion.

A good example to start with is America. After several decades of fighting the so-called terrorists all over the world, and despite its supremacy of ground, air and sea fire powers, had to resort to dialogue in a number of areas so as to achieve lasting peace. An example is a truce it had with the Taliban! After several years of military exercise of power, loss of lives, properties and trillions of dollars, no appreciable progress was recorded in dealing with certain criminals even by the so-called superpowers of the world through military might! Indeed, both the US and Russia had to resort to dialogue in order to achieve a certain level of peace in quite a number of battlefields despite their capacity for destruction using air power or even forced occupation using ground troops!

However, of recent, a few wise men among members of the leadership of the superpowers realise that incessant bombing and killing of innocent civilians cannot end unjustifiable wars, attacks of the so-called terrorists and or bandits. Thus, the resort to dialogue towards lasting peaceful coexistence! That’s to say fire power has limitations and yielded no much successes and the need to explore alternative approaches to achieve peace became imperative! One can argue that Al Qaeda was defeated through the use of force and Israel/Palestinian conflict remains intractable despite several dialogue sessions. However, even lawyers have identified ADR i.e alternative dispute resolution A.K.A. dialogue as a good means of resolving disagreements.

Here in Nigeria, our security forces have been fighting for over years without any foreseeable end to the multifaceted wars! The country is spending its meagre foreign currency in exchange for either outdated or incomplete weapons. The economy and citizens are suffering beyond comprehension with no peace and security in sight! Although the dialogue was used to address the Niger Delta crisis, no one in government ever thought of or considered the use of similar channel to address say the Herders /Farmers conflict.

Surprisingly and just in time, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi came up with a novel initiative towards reconciliation with the several groups of the dreaded bandits, daredevil kidnappers and armed robbers in some parts of Kaduna State. The Sheikh organised discussion sessions with the leaders of these miscreants with a view to cajoling them to lay down their arms and ammunition so as to give peace a chance. Education, enlightenment and appeals are used to entice these daredevil individuals to see reasons to abandon their nefarious acts and embrace peace. No ransom, gifts or any enticement or inducement is involved thus far! Yet, he has so far been able to receive thousands of repentant bandits who have voluntarily surrendered along with their commanders. As at today, more cells of kidnappers and bandits have sent their emissaries with white flags indicating their readiness to abandon jungle life and reintegrate with people in the cities.

In a society where many religious leaders have lost sense of direction, honour and or dignity, these type of moves is what the larger society need to see from well-meaning leaders and individuals so as to restore some level of confidence and peace in our society. Clearly, some may read meaning to this noble gesture, some may not appreciate nor understand where and why the Sheikh has taken it upon himself to dare these miscreants and even risk his life so as to achieve this giant feat. However, Allah SWT knows what is in Mallam Ahmad’s mind. Those close to him also know his thought process, his vision and mission on this epic journey. That’s indeed why we salute his courage, his wisdom and his timely intervention for the benefits of Nigerians irrespective of tribes or religions. It’s also pertinent to note that this action is noble, exemplary as the Sheikh is not just talking the talk but walking the talk devoid of politics, popularity seeking and or egoism. Unfortunately, these are what characterised our scholars of nowadays.

It’s in the light of the foregoing that we wish to call on our President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to immediately consider integrating Sheikh Gumi’s Peace Initiative as part of an overall holistic approach and plan towards securing our lives and our properties. Nigerians have lost numerous relatives and assets over the years in these senseless wars. Mr President should order all the heads of armed forces, the police and other security operatives to jointly work with Sheikh Ahmad in this dialogue process towards achieving lasting peace. In addition, all surrendered and repentants miscreants should be extended amnesty as well as some palliatives such as soft loans say three cows, a male and two female to start life just as what was done to the repentant militants akin from Niger Delta! The militants in the creeks complained that oil companies’ activities made fishing the bedrock of living and economic activities of the inhabitants of the region impossible. The government planned and executed an amnesty program, which ensured peace in the region. The Fulani herdsmen who basically rear animals have had their means of livelihood affected negatively by desert encroachment as well as human beings’ activities that degrade the environment. Grazing areas, cattle routes and even canals have all disappeared. This caused the loss of opportunity as well as assets such as animals owned by herdsmen. Poverty pushes some of these herders into crimes of cattle rustling, banditry and kidnapping. A program similar to the amnesty program implemented in the Niger Delta region may be necessary for the herdsmen to complement Sheikh Ahmed’s efforts so as to achieve lasting peace. Federal goverment programs such as Trader Moni, Conditional Cash Transfer, Palliatives etc can be extended to these herders with a view to collecting their arms and ammunition in exchange for instance, one bull and two female cows on a loan basis. Organisations such as MACBAN, in addition to Dr Gumi’s organisation can be involved in sorting out those that can be made to benefit from this scheme after undergoing a process of de-radicalisation, drugs rehabilitation and then economic rehabilitation with a view to alleviating poverty and achieving a lasting solution. We should not, indeed, must not allow sentiments and politics to derail this laudable initiative. If any, it be should fine-tune and implemented soonest in the interest of us all.

If peace can be achieved through dialogue, why spend colossal money and lose several lives yet without much or appreciable level of success. We should take a queue from President Biden who was sworn recently as the 46th President of US, the only policy he promised to continue with the disgraced former President Trump, is dialogue with the Talibans towards lasting peaceful coexistence!

May Allah guide the President, and help Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi’s Peace Initiative to succeed! Amin

 

Huseyn Zakaria/Shuaibu Idris Miqati mni (Abuja, Nigeria)