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Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Nigerian government to fashion a separate paramilitary outfit to combat the Lakurawa sect in the North.
This is coming just days after it was reported that the sect, which operates in North West states Sokoto and Kebbi, has moved into Niger State in North Central Nigeria, as well as Kaduna State.
The Cleric while stressing that the ideology of the group is yet to be determined maintained that, judging by their activities and most recent mayhem in Mera Community of Kebbi state, which resulted in the loss of 17 lives, it is safe to say they are not different from every other fanatical religious sect parading the Sahel.
He spoke on Tuesday in a current affairs program monitored by our correspondent on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
He said, “There are some foreign superpowers in it because Nigeria is filled with many mineral sources in some areas that are fertile land. They come and cause mayhem so we can seek their protection afterwards”.
Gumi, the current Mufti and Mufassir at the Kaduna central mosque Sultan Bello opined that the Nigerian military is not developed to fight terrorism, calling for the establishment of a separate outfit who are more familiar with the terrains than the soldiers sent to these embattled communities to tackle the Lakurawa sects.
“Our military is fashioned in the system of the British Army. It is not to fight a bandit but to fight another military. If the Niger Republic faces Nigeria, we will send our military”
“Military is a competition of firepower and we are expecting too much from them if we want them to focus on attacking bandits,” he added.
Citing the paramilitary wings that Bangladesh used to infiltrate terrorist groups as an example, he opined that engaging the local herdsmen as a force of combat will calm the impending insurgency.
Meanwhile, reacting to the willingness of young recruits to join the sects and the statement of the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who faulted the residents for accommodating the sect, Gumi attributed it to illiteracy and economic hardship.
Gumi, however, urged the Federal Government to establish schools like the Almajiri schools established by former President Goodluck Jonathan, and also make substantiated attempts at reducing the hardship and ensuring the porous borders are well secured.
“Nigeria is already fighting several armed groups, including Islamist militants Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province and several bandit gangs. Another insurgency could further destabilise the region and suck an already stretched military into a long-drawn fight, Gumi said.
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