Kaduna Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has again defended armed bandits in northern Nigeria, insisting they are driven by revenge, not unprovoked violence.

In an interview on Trust TV, Gumi claimed the bandits were reacting to past grievances, saying many had lost relatives and suffered hostility. He admitted their killings were “wrong and obnoxious” but argued they attack out of vengeance.

Gumi, who has repeatedly called for negotiations and amnesty for bandits, said Fulani herdsmen had lived peacefully with communities for centuries and only retaliate when wronged. He urged the Tinubu administration to engage and rehabilitate the groups instead of relying solely on military force.

He also compared the bandits to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), accusing IPOB of rejecting dialogue and pursuing secession, unlike bandits who, according to him, are “ready for peace.”