THE FG KNOWS THEM ALL”: Sheikh Gumi Drops Bombshell

KADUNA, NIGERIA — Renowned Islamic cleric and controversial mediator, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has once again stirred the hornet’s nest with a daring claim regarding Nigeria’s protracted war against insurgency.

In a statement that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s security architecture, Gumi alleged that the Federal Government of Nigeria is fully aware of the identities and exact coordinates of every terrorist operating within its borders.

Defending his frequent and often criticized trips into the heart of bandit-controlled forests, the Kaduna-based cleric clarified that his missions are never “solo operations.” Gumi insisted that his dialogues with armed groups are conducted with the full knowledge and physical accompaniment of the nation’s security forces.

“The federal government knows every terrorist by name and location,” Gumi stated. “I do not go alone to negotiate with terrorists. I go with the police, the military, and other security agencies. They are always part of the team.”

This is not the first time the cleric has challenged the state’s narrative. For years, Gumi has acted as a self-appointed middleman, famously visiting bandit camps in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna to preach “peace” and listen to the grievances of armed herdsmen.

While he describes his role as a “humanitarian intervention” aimed at saving kidnapped victims—including the recent Kuriga schoolchildren—critics have accused him of being an apologist for terrorists. The Federal Government has previously summoned him for questioning over such remarks, but Gumi remains undeterred, insisting that “force has failed.”

Gumi’s latest outburst puts the Tinubu administration and the military high command in a tight spot. If the government indeed “knows every name and location,” the public pressure to act decisively will likely intensify.

However, security experts suggest that “knowing a location” in the vast, dense forests of the Northwest is different from being able to launch a rescue operation without high collateral damage or the execution of hostages.