500 bandits surrender in Kaduna after listening to cleric’s sermon 

At least, 500 bandits have agreed to lay down their arms in Kaduna State.

This followed a peace deal initiated by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric.

Desert Herald reports that the bandits are said to be those terrorising Zaria-Giwa roads as well as Birnin Gwari area in Kaduna State.

The cleric had reportedly preached in Sabon Garin Yadi.

“Virtually all the top armed commanders were freely given the chance to address the session with almost all of them lamenting the condition they were subjected to and expressed the frustration that led them into kidnapping and banditry,” the report by the online newspaper read.

“Most of them were unanimous in their submissions. They told Sheikh Gumi and CP Umar Muri that they were forced into taking up arms. They said over the years they were subjected to constant humiliation, harassment, arbitrary arrests, extortion and even killing of their innocent loved ones by law enforcement agents.

“They lamented that security personnel had killed many of their family members with many of them losing virtually all their possessions through cattle rustling, extortion by security agents and military bombardments. They lamented that thousands of their youths did not have anything to do and there was no means of livelihood hence their decision to take up arms.

“They also complained of lack of government’s presence and the absence of basic necessities like water, schools, clinics, etc. in all their localities and vowed that as long as government and the society did not change their attitude towards them, there would never be peace.”