Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has triggered fresh controversy following comments he made about terrorists and kidnapping activities in Nigeria during an interview on AIT.
Speaking on the issue of insecurity, Gumi said kidnappers and terrorists depend on ransom payments to keep their operations running.
“The t£rrorists need all the money they’re getting from k+dnapping. It’s not like they are living luxurious lives. The government is putting too much pressure on them so they need money to finance their war machines.”
The statement has since generated reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing outrage over what they described as an attempt to justify criminal activities carried out by armed groups across the country.
Gumi, who has consistently advocated dialogue with bandits and terrorists, has in the past argued that many of the armed groups are driven by financial survival rather than ideology.
