Ahmad Gumi, prominent Islamic cleric, has asked the federal government to grant ‘blanket amnesty’ to bandits, who have been notorious for several killings and abduction in the country in recent years.
Gumi said this in a media briefing on Friday, after meeting with Niger state governor, Abubakar Bello.
The Muslim cleric had met with suspected bandits in the state over the abduction of students from Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state.
He claimed bandits had copied kidnapping from Niger Delta militants and advised that if the government could grant amnesty to the militants, it should extend to the bandits.
Gumi further said if any of the bandit was caught after the grant of amnesty, then they should be dealt with according to the law.
“The outcome of the meeting was very positive because you have a warring faction saying that they have complaints and grievances which are very simple. There is hope that we can resolve this,” Gumi said.
“I appeal to the government and recommend that government should do to them exactly what they did to the Niger delta militants and give them a blanket amnesty. Then if anybody will continue we will deal with him.”