Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has argued that herdsmen attacks on Christians are retaliatory and insisted there is no ongoing Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has claimed that herdsmen killings of Christians are retaliatory actions carried out in response to attacks by Christian communities, according to a report from PEOPLES GAZETTE.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Gumi said Christian communities at what he described as “fault lines” in areas of conflict were also participating in violence. “The Christians at ‘fault lines’ in war with herdsmen, do also attack and counterattack. They kill and they are also killed. We regret all loss of lives. Don’t talk of Tafawa Balewa, Yalwan Shandam, Kafanchan, Zangon Kataf, Kaduna crises, etc.,” he wrote.
He rejected claims that Christians across Nigeria were facing genocide, insisting that his recent visits to Kano, Lagos and Ibadan showed Christians “going about their business,” adding, “They are in power, economy and security outfits.”
Mr Gumi further warned that foreign military intervention would worsen insecurity, arguing that the only sustainable solution was equitable development and protection for all citizens. “The only option left is to utilise our national resources equitably to educate, develop and protect all Nigerians, herdsmen included. Any foreign military intervention would only worsen the precarious situation, as nobody can control these outlawed groups on both sides,” he said.
He also alleged that he had been informed of instances where Christians were “burying empty coffins” to portray a false narrative of genocide.