Their Position Is, If You K!ll Us,We’ll Retaliate, If You Don’t k!ll Us, We Won’t k!ll You _ Gumi speaks for bandits in fresh release 

Their Position Is, If You Kill Us,We’ll Retaliate, If You Don’t kill Us, We Won’t kill You _ Gumi speaks for bandits in fresh release

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, has stated that the armed groups operating in northern Nigeria are not seeking political power but are driven by a desire to survive. He emphasized that many people misinterpret their motives and fail to understand the deeper dynamics fueling the cönfliçt.

In a report published by THE SUN on Friday, December 19, 2025, Sheikh Gumi explained that the bandits are not attempting to overthrow the government or claim leadership. Instead, he said their actions are rooted in fear and retaliation.

According to him, their message is simple: “If you don’t kill us, we won’t kill you.” He argued that this mindset, though often misunderstood, is essential to grasp for any meaningful resolution to the crisis.

Gumi stressed that the key to ending the vîolênce lies in dialogue, not military aggression. He criticized leaders who are quick to deploy force without considering the consequences, especially when innocent lives are at stake. He believes that negotiation can bring peace to troubled regions like Zamfara, Katsina, Southern Kaduna, and Plateau.

His words, “One important thing to note is that the bandits are not claiming political leadership, nor are they fighting to overthrow the government.

What they say, in simple terms, is that they want to survive and not be kîlled unjustly. Their position is: if you kill us, we will retaliate; if you don’t kîll us, we won’t kîll you. Understanding this mindset is key to resolving the conflict through dialogue rather than endless vîolênce.”