The Federal Government has been asked to grant amnesty to bandits, to encourage them to lay down their arms and restore peace in Zamfara State and other parts of Nigeria.
It should also compensate victims of banditry.
A renowned Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi made the call, after visiting the bandits’ camps in Zamfara State, where he had been to encourage them to embrace peace.
The Kaduna-based popular Islamic scholar, who is a native of Zamfara State, said for peace to return to the state and Nigeria at large, the Federal Government may need to grant amnesty to the bandits to surrender their arms.
Sheikh Gumi believes that dialogue with the bandits or even Boko Haram is an important strategy, to douse tension occasioned by the current insecurity in the country.
Also Read: Zamfara Govt approves continued dialogue with bandits as strategy to restore peace
He is also canvassing compensation for the victims.
Sheikh Gumi wants governments to deploy doctors and Islamic scholars to the bandits’ camps, to engage them with Islamic knowledge, to get them to repent and lay down their arms and allow peace to prevail in Nigeria.
Zamfara Governor, Bello Mohammed, during an audience with Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, emphasized the need for religious leaders to dwell on how to get the bandits to accept peace initiatives.
Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continue to dialogue with the bandits, as it is yielding positive results, particularly the release of kidnapped victims and the surrender of arms.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
