Grant ‘blanket amnesty’ to bandits like was done to Niger-Delta militants – Gumi tells Buhari

A prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has asked the federal government to grant ‘blanket amnesty’ to bandits terrorising the country.

Gumi made the plea while addressing journalists on Friday after meeting with Abubakar Bello, Niger state governor.

The cleric had met with leaders of some banditsin the state over the abduction of some students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger.

The cleric, also claimed that bandits learnt kidnapping from Niger Delta militants.

He therefore advised the government to extend amnesty to bandits as it was done to militants.

He said anyone who goes ahead with criminal activities after amnesty has been granted will to be dealt with.

“The outcome of the meeting was very positive because you have a warring faction saying that they have complaints and grievances which are very simple. There is hope that we can resolve this,” Gumi said.

“I appeal to the government and recommend that government should do to them exactly what they did to the Niger delta militants and give them a blanket amnesty. Then if anybody will continue we will deal with him.”