Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said he is willing to lead a national push for amnesty for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu—provided Kanu demonstrates genuine remorse and publicly calls for peace.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Gumi argued that reconciliation remains Nigeria’s most viable path to lasting security, insisting that military force alone cannot resolve the country’s complex conflicts. He maintained that the Nigerian Army is not structured for prolonged guerrilla warfare and that dialogue should be prioritized whenever armed groups show willingness to abandon violence.
“This Kanu that was jailed for terrorism—for agitating that our soldiers should be killed—if this same Kanu shows remorse and calls for peace, I will be in the forefront calling for amnesty for him,” Gumi said.
The cleric framed Kanu’s case within Nigeria’s broader struggle to manage political agitation and armed dissent. He referenced historical precedents, including former President Shehu Shagari’s amnesty for Odumegwu Ojukwu and President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s rehabilitation program for Niger Delta militants, as examples of how forgiveness has helped de-escalate national crises.
Gumi stressed that Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural diversity requires a spirit of reconciliation to avoid further division. He insisted his advocacy does not amount to endorsing separatist movements or violence but reflects his commitment to preventing the country from sliding deeper into instability.
He also addressed criticism of his peace advocacy, attributing attacks on his reputation to political tensions in Zamfara State, where authorities have rejected a proposed peace pact aimed at addressing banditry. According to Gumi, the recurring kidnappings in Kebbi, Kwara, and Bauchi States highlight the limitations of a purely military response.
He concluded that negotiation, rehabilitation, and reintegration remain essential if Nigeria hopes to achieve long-term peace and national unity.
