Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has advised the Nigerian government to rethink its stance on refusing to negotiate with terrorists, saying dialogue may be key to ending the country’s long-running violence.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Kaduna-based cleric argued that Nigeria is being influenced by a “Western slogan” that does not always reflect reality.
He stressed that talks, rather than force alone, could help break the cycle of attacks affecting many parts of the country.
Gumi also warned that weak border control is worsening insecurity, allowing weapons and criminal elements to move freely.
According to him, this has made it more difficult to defeat terrorism and protect citizens.
He pointed to ongoing tensions involving the United States and Iran, saying even powerful nations engage in negotiations despite public positions against it. He urged Nigeria to draw lessons from such situations.
He said: “We should not be misled by the Western slogan, ‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists.’”
Gumi added that violence often leads to more suffering for civilians, as both terrorist attacks and military operations tend to harm innocent people.
He further explained: “As long as Nigeria’s borders remain porous, the cycle of violence will persist.”
The cleric emphasised that understanding the root causes of terrorism is crucial to finding lasting solutions, warning that force alone cannot resolve the crisis.
In his words: “The lesson is clear: lasting solutions require realism, dialogue, and strategic understanding, not just force.”
Gumi suggested that Nigeria may need a neutral mediator to help open dialogue and reduce tensions, similar to efforts seen in other conflict zones.