Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said his dealings with bandits inside forests were done in collaboration with the government authorities and security agencies. Gumi stated that he never broke any law by going into the forests to discuss with bandits, Channels TV reported.
He made the statement on Friday, June 25, after presiding over a Jummat service at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna state on same day.
The Kaduna-based cleric also denied reports that he was either quizzed or invited for questioning by the Department of State Security Service (DSS) over his remarks against the military.
He said: “Nobody Invited me for questioning or any arrest, I can say that categorically,” the Sheik said, adding, “since I ventured into the forest, I went there with full security, the police, with the knowledge of the DSS, traditional rulers, and the Fulani leaders, I never went alone.”
Vanguard reported that the preacher denied making disparaging remarks against the military during his recent live interview on national television. He said there was nowhere in the TV interview that he categorically accused the entire military. Meanwhile, the police command in Kaduna has confirmed an attempted kidnap of an Indian expatriate on Monday, June 21, in Dankande, Igabi local government area which turned bad for a band of armed bandits.
Recall also that the Punch had reported earlier in February that Sheik Ahmad Gumi had had a meeting with the bandits near a military post
ASP Muhammad Jalige, the spokesman of the command in a statement on Tuesday, June 22, said the kidnappers launched their attack from an ambush on the expatriate who was escorted by officers, Daily Trust reported. However, the policeman bravely engaged the criminals in a gun duel which left one of them dead as several others fled with bullet wounds.
