Ahmad Gumi, popular Islamic cleric in Nigeria on Friday got invitation notice by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kaduna.
The Islamic cleric was invited over his allegation that Nigerian security agencies are benefitting from the banditry ravaging communities in the north.
Candidreporters.com gathered that the cleric was cautioned on his utterances but was not arrested contrary to reports.
Gumi is known to have access to bandits, made the allegation on Wednesday during a programme on Arise TV.
In his words: “These bandits, if you don’t know, are cooperating with a lot of bad elements in our security system. This is a business. So many people are involved, you’ll be so surprised,” the cleric said.
“They were caught in Zamfara; they were caught everywhere, how do these big weapons cross our borders? How can these big weapons cross our borders and get into the forest without the cooperation of some bad element of the security operatives assisting them? It’s not possible. If I give you the same amount of guns can you take it to the UK? You can’t because the security is alert.”
The Voice of America, VOA, Hausa service on Friday, also affirmed that Gumi was invited to the Kaduna office of the DSS after the military authorities took exception to his controversial comments.
Speaking on the allegation, the cleric’s spokesman, Malam Tukur Mamu in an interview with VOA Hausa, on Friday said his principal did not categorically accuse the entire military.
He stated that Gumi was misquoted by the media.
Candidreporters.com also recalls that Nigerian army kicked against the cleric’s claim and warned that it does not condone acts sabotaging its efforts.
Part of the statement reads: “It is essential to remind ourselves that this same military, being accused of connivance, are the ones who recently put their lives on the line to rescue abductees of the Government Secondary School, Birnin Yauri, from kidnappers,” Onyema Nwachukwu, army’s spokesperson, had said.
“While the Nigerian army will not attempt to excuse the possibility of black sheep amongst its fold, it must be stated unambiguously that it will not condone any form of sabotage or aiding and assisting the enemy by any personnel.”
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