A civil society organisation, Coalition for Peace In Nigeria (COPIN) has petitioned Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately arrest a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, over his alleged romance with bandits and terrorists. Tukur Mamu, a terrorists’ negotiator, recently arrested and detained by the DSS over alleged links to terrorists, is Gumi’s aide. Mamu, the lead negotiator between terrorists and the passengers kidnapped from an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, was arrested in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, with his family members. Mamu was arrested on the orders of the Nigerian Government. The DSS has described the outcome of the investigation into the activities of the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, Mamu, as shocking. It also said Mamu was on his way to a meeting with international commanders of terrorist groups when he was arrested in Egypt.
Meanwhile, COPIN on Wednesday said Gumi has been hobnobbing with bandits and terrorists and therefore should be a person of interest to the DSS. A statement jointly signed by COPIN’s National Coordinator, Pharmacist Emeka Akwuobi, and National Secretary, Hajiya Fatih Yakub, urged the DSS to arrest Gumi, describing him as a threat to national security. It threatened to organise a peaceful protest in Abuja, and other cities, should the intelligence agency fail to invite Gumi for questioning.
The statement reads in part, “We have watched with keen interest the provocative tendencies of Sheikh Gumi, especially as they relate to the activities of bandits/terrorists operating within the North West general area.
“We note, with concern, Gumi’s call for grant of amnesty to terrorists, who have killed and maimed thousands of unarmed civilians, including women and children.
“Of particular interest is the kidnap of over one hundred Abuja/Kaduna train passengers by the terrorists in April this year, many of whom are still being held under terrible conditions.
“As a peace advocacy group, we condemn all these evil acts perpetrated by the terror group, and other enemies of state operating under whatever name, as we insist that nobody, or group has the right to take arms against the State, regardless of their grievances.
“Consequently, we demand the immediate arrest and interrogation of Gumi who, by now, should be a person of interest to all intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“We will not hesitate to mobilise for peaceful protests in strategic cities, including Abuja, if the DSS fail to invite the Islamic Cleric for interview on all he knows about bandits/terrorists holding the North West states, and parts of North Central, to ransom.
“Finally, we wish to commend the DSS over the way and manner they have continued to handle Gumi’s spokesman and negotiator, Tukur Mamu, since he was returned to the country from Cairo, Egypt, last week.”
