Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, says some bandits he interacted with have expressed dissatisfaction with the continued bloodshed in the country but claimed they were compelled to sustain attacks because of killings in their communities.

Gumi said the armed men viewed the violence as a cycle of revenge and retaliation, adding that some feared being killed if they abandoned their criminal activities.

The cleric disclosed this during an interview on PAPShow, published on October 29, with excerpts circulating on social media on Tuesday.

According to him, some bandits complained that military operations against cattle rustling had resulted in the killing of women and children in their communities, further fuelling resentment and retaliatory attacks.

Gumi quoted one of the armed men as saying that the bloodshed had become excessive, although they believed they had been forced to continue the violence.

He said the bandits considered the situation a cycle of attacks and counterattacks, insisting that dialogue and negotiations were necessary to end the killings.

The cleric maintained that religious leaders had a responsibility to encourage both sides to embrace negotiations and restore confidence among the armed groups that they would not be killed if they surrendered.

On the proliferation of weapons, Gumi alleged that financial support and competition among rival armed groups were contributing to an arms race, with factions acquiring more sophisticated weapons to intimidate one another.

He also claimed that the groups obtained their weapons through illegal markets, adding that foreign intelligence agencies could be involved in the supply of arms, although he provided no evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Gumi’s advocacy for dialogue and negotiations with bandits has continued to attract criticism from Nigerians who believe such an approach could undermine efforts to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.