Don’t b0mb forests!” Sheikh Gumi warns on a!rstrikes

“Don’t bomb forests!” Sheikh Gumi warns on airstrikes

…….put innocent lives at risk as bandit attacks rise.

Islamic cleric Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has cautioned security agencies against using aerial bombardment to combat banditry in Nigeria, citing the risk to innocent civilians living near forest areas.

Speaking during his Ramadan Tafsir in Kaduna, Gumi backed the creation of the Nigerian Forest Security Service, a specialised force aimed at tackling criminals hiding in forests, but stressed that airstrikes could cause tragic loss of life.

He referenced the deadly incident in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where over 100 residents were reportedly killed in a mistaken Nigerian Air Force airstrike, describing it as a painful example of why bombing forest zones should be reconsidered.

Gumi warned that while bandits have become more violent and organised, and may even receive external support, security operations must prioritise civilian safety. He urged the government to combine firm enforcement with non-military strategies, including dialogue, to achieve lasting peace.