Kidnapping children ‘lesser evil’ than killing soldiers – Gumi

Controversial Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has stated that while all criminal acts by bandits are wrong, abducting children is a lesser evil compared to the killing of military personnel.

Gumi shared his view during an interview with BBC Pidgin, which was later uploaded on the platform’s Facebook page on Tuesday.

Although he condemned all actions of the criminal groups creating havoc across Nigeria, the cleric argued that kidnapping, though immoral, is not as severe as taking lives.

“Kidnapping children is lesser evil than killing of soldiers. They are all evil but killing is worse than abduction. Like what happened in Kebbi, the abducted schoolgirls were released,” Gumi said.

Addressing allegations linking him to the bandits, Gumi clarified that he has never met them privately and noted that his last interaction with the group occurred in 2021.

Regarding the recent abduction of students from a Catholic school in Niger State, Gumi expressed his prayers for their safe return.