“Military Force Alone Won’t End Terrorism” — Sheikh Gumi insists on negotiation

A Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has stated that military operations alone cannot end terrorism in Nigeria, urging authorities to adopt dialogue as part of a broader strategy. Gumi argued that killing terrorists without addressing underlying grievances may only escalate violence, noting that such actions often trigger retaliatory attacks on civilians.

According to him, “when terrorists are targeted, they often retaliate by attacking the most vulnerable populations,” warning that civilians frequently bear the consequences of both terrorist actions and military responses.

The cleric emphasized the need for government to first understand the motivations driving insurgent groups, posing the question: “What do these terrorists actually want?” He described failure to address root causes as a major flaw in Nigeria’s counterterrorism approach.

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Gumi, who has long advocated dialogue with armed groups, cited international examples such as diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran to support his call for negotiations rather than purely military solutions. He further warned that continued reliance on force could deepen the crisis, arguing that “what violence creates, violence alone cannot resolve.”

The comments come amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and IS-affiliated factions have continued to carry out deadly attacks across several regions.

Gumi’s position has remained controversial, with critics arguing that negotiating with terrorists could embolden armed groups, while supporters say a combined strategy of force and dialogue may be necessary to achieve lasting peace.