Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has denied supporting bandits and their activities, warning Nigerians to stop linking him with banditry to attract social media viewership.
In a statement issued by the cleric yesterday, he denied supporting bandits, cautioning that anyone who continued from the date of his statement to circulate falsehoods against him would be liable to legal action.
Gumi said, “I’ve noticed that I am being misquoted in some of my media interviews, public lectures and discourse on how to address banditry in Nigeria. This is being done by certain ethnic-interest groups, individuals driven by prejudice and some sectional internet content creators who use sensational and outrageous headlines to attract viewership at the expense of human suffering and sacrifice.
“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo suggesting support for justification of, protection of or advocacy for banditry in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me.
“I am a loyal citizen of my beloved country, a nation whose potential I believe is unmatched anywhere in the world.
“I therefore urge the general public, the media and the Nigerian state to disregard such fake, manipulated and doctored materials currently in circulation. “Furthermore, anyone who continues, from the date of this release to circulate falsehoods against me shall be liable to legal action.
“I sincerely hope that our great nation will heal and that all victims affected by this violence will find comfort in the collective determination of the nation and the international community to achieve a lasting solution to the insecurity fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice,” he stated.
