Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said some bandits he interacted with expressed dissatisfaction with the continued bloodshed in the country, claiming they felt compelled to sustain attacks because of killings in their communities.
Gumi said the armed men viewed the violence as a cycle of revenge and retaliation.
He added that some believed they could be killed if they abandoned their activities.
The cleric disclosed this during an interview on PAPShow, published on October 29, with clips of the interview going viral on social media on Tuesday.
According to him, one of the bandits he spoke with admitted that the bloodshed had become excessive, although members of the group believed they had been forced into continued violence.
“One of the bandits was telling us the bloodshed is too much,” Gumi said.
He added, “They, too, are not happy. And they say they are forced to do it.”
Explaining the grievances expressed by the armed men, Gumi said they complained that military operations initially presented as efforts to tackle cattle rustling had resulted in the killing of women and children in their communities.
He recalled asking why the military killed women and children during the operations.
“But why did they kill their women and children? Why are they killing their women and children? Why are the vigilantes arresting them and killing them? Why?” he quoted the bandits as asking.
Gumi said the armed men considered the violence a cycle of revenge arising from attacks on their communities.
“So, they feel it’s a field of blood, revenge, attack and counterattack,” he said.
He argued that the continued killings made dialogue necessary, saying religious leaders had a responsibility to encourage both sides to embrace negotiations.
“So, we, as clergy, our own duty is to look at how to stop it. Let’s stop the bloodshed. Let’s come to the table,” he said.
When the interviewer asked why the bandits could not simply stop their activities, Gumi said they feared being killed if they surrendered or abandoned violence.