The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has sternly warned Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other individuals he described as sympathizers of terrorists and bandits.
The Minister urged them to cease offering any form of support, either overtly or covertly, to criminal groups threatening national security.
During an official visit to Maiduguri on Wednesday, the Defence Minister made it clear that terrorism and banditry should never be framed as expressions of regional, ethnic, or religious solidarity.
He highlighted the detrimental impact of such justifications, emphasizing that criminal behavior should not be excused under any circumstances.
“A friend of a thief is a thief,” Musa said, stressing the point that it is essential for Nigerians to reject narratives that legitimize or excuse criminal activity.
The Minister’s comments appeared to be a direct response to Sheikh Gumi, who has previously referred to bandits in the forests as “our brothers” and suggested that society could not function without them. Musa made it clear that while compassion for victims of violence is vital, empathy must not equate to complicity.
He warned that such narratives only embolden criminal networks, which have wreaked havoc on communities, displaced families, and caused the deaths of countless innocent people.
Furthermore, Musa pointed out that terrorism thrives not only on weapons but also on moral and rhetorical support.
He stated that those who defend, excuse, or shield criminals, whether through words, influence, or silence, must bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
The Defence Minister concluded by reaffirming that Nigeria cannot effectively combat terrorism and banditry while the lines between victims and perpetrators are blurred by sympathetic narratives.
He reiterated that neutrality is unacceptable when it comes to national security and that Nigerians must choose between standing with the law or enabling criminality.
“The choice is clear,” Musa emphasized. “Stand with the law and the nation, or be counted among those enabling criminality.”