In a clip that's ignited fury across Nigeria, controversial cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi uttered words that cut deep: "The herdsmen are not like IPOB, they are kidnapping children to make money, let’s be fair with them." The remark, captured in a resurfaced video circulating wildly on social media this week, has reignited debates over one of the nation's darkest figures.
The exact moment? November 20, 2025, during a candid Trust TV interview. Gumi, seated in a simple studio setup with a microphone clipped to his flowing white robe, leaned forward as he spoke. His voice steady, eyes earnest, he contrasted the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whom he accused of targeting security forces with Fulani herdsmen, framing their school abductions as mere "business" rather than terror. No notes in hand, no pauses for effect; just raw conviction from a man who's long mediated with bandits in northern forests.
Gumi's history amplifies the sting. A retired Nigerian Army colonel turned scholar, he's ventured into bandit enclaves since 2021, brokering deals that freed captives but drew accusations of enabling crime. Remember his 2021 Arise TV appearance, where he first downplayed herdsmen's violence as "lesser evil" compared to IPOB? That sparked Reno Omokri's viral takedown: "What is ‘only’ about kidnapping children?" Fast-forward to today, and Gumi's words feel like an echo, timely amid fresh kidnappings in Kaduna schools.
Social media erupted. "This depraved animal needs to be in jail," fumed one X user, echoing thousands of reposts. IPOB fired back in a statement, branding Gumi a "terror apologist" and insisting their Eastern Security Network defends against exactly these herdsmen raids. Even northern voices whispered unease, fearing his rhetoric fuels division in a country weary of ethnic strife.
Yet Gumi stands unbowed. In the full 40-second clip, he urges "fairness," claiming bandits crave negotiation, not secession like IPOB. Critics see sympathy for killers; supporters, a plea for dialogue. As ransoms climb and parents mourn, one question lingers: Is Gumi's "fairness" a bridge to peace, or a license for more pain?
Nigeria watches, hearts heavy. Will authorities act, or let words like these fester?
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