Human rights advocate, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has asked the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, over alleged public defence of terrorists in Nigeria.
He said Gumi’s repeated comments and engagements with armed groups amount to encouragement of terrorism and pose a threat to national security.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Terrorism Apology is a Crime, Government Must Investigate and Prosecute Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,” Omirhobo accused the cleric of openly supporting bandits and insurgents.
According to him, the cleric has consistently justified dangerous armed elements by portraying them as misunderstood victims rather than criminals who continue to destroy lives and properties across the country.
Omirhobo expressed shock that, despite Gumi’s repeated remarks, “Gumi’s consistent public utterances, visitations to terrorist camps, and advocacy on their behalf raise serious concerns regarding national security, complicity, and the promotion of terrorism.”
He further faulted Gumi’s claim that armed groups are “listening and reasonable human beings,” stating that such rhetoric emboldens criminals who have killed, kidnapped, and displaced thousands of Nigerians.
The lawyer stressed that no religious status or public influence should shield anyone from accountability. He warned that public speech has limits and should not be used to justify criminal activity or threaten national peace.
Quoting constitutional and legal provisions, Omirhobo insisted that “Freedom of speech does not protect speech that promotes crime, violence, or threatens national security.”
He cited sections of the Constitution and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which prohibit indirect or direct support for terrorism.
The human rights lawyer also pointed to provisions in the Criminal Code Act that classify such actions as treasonable offences, punishable by severe penalties including life imprisonment or death.
Calling on security agencies and federal authorities, Omirhobo demanded urgent action.
He urged the DSS, Police, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Attorney-General of the Federation to begin investigations and prosecute where necessary.
Omirhobo also asked the National Assembly Committees on Defence, Human Rights, and Judiciary to monitor the process and ensure accountability, arguing that, “Defending terrorists is not peace-building, it is aiding evil and undermining the Constitution of Nigeria.”
Sheikh Gumi, a former military officer turned Islamic scholar, has sparked controversy over the years for his public calls for negotiation with armed bandit groups.
He has repeatedly argued that many bandits are victims of neglect, urging government amnesty and dialogue instead of military action.
However, critics have long accused him of enabling criminals and undermining counter-terrorism efforts, especially after his widely publicised visits to bandit camps in Kaduna and Zamfara.
Despite public outrage, Gumi has maintained that talks not force will bring peace to the North.