Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
While grieving families across Nigeria continue to bury loved ones killed in endless attacks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s silence has become deafening. The nation bleeds daily — from Kaduna to Plateau, Zamfara to Benue — yet there has been no strong word of condemnation from the President. Instead, Nigerians watched in disbelief as controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, once again defended bandits and urged the U.S. not to bomb them.
In a recent interview on Arise TV, Sheikh Gumi criticized the United States for allegedly planning to help Nigeria strike terrorists, warning that such an intervention would “worsen insecurity.” He accused America of hypocrisy and destruction in countries like Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, arguing that “bombing terrorists will only kill more Muslims and Christians.” Gumi went further to claim that “dialogue” with the gunmen is yielding results and that parts of Kaduna State are now “safer” because of ongoing talks with armed groups.
But for many Nigerians who have lost relatives, homes, and livelihoods to these same bandits, Gumi’s words are painful — and the government’s silence is even more heartbreaking. “Each time they kill us, we hear nothing from Abuja. No condemnation, no empathy,” said a community leader from Southern Kaduna. “It feels like our lives don’t matter.”
Security experts are equally disturbed. “A nation that tolerates the defense of terrorists is a nation in danger,” said a retired army officer. “The President’s silence gives oxygen to those who justify violence. Nigeria needs moral leadership right now, not quiet diplomacy.”
Over the years, Gumi has positioned himself as a mediator between the government and armed groups. He has repeatedly called for amnesty and negotiations, even visiting bandit camps. But critics argue that his words embolden the killers while downplaying the trauma of victims who have endured years of abductions, rape, and bloodshed.
What shocks many is that the federal government has never once openly challenged or rebuked Gumi’s narrative — not even after the deaths of hundreds of civilians in one month. Instead, the cleric continues to speak freely, often sounding more like a spokesman for terrorists than a peacemaker.
Now, Nigerians are demanding answers from the highest office. Why has President Tinubu not condemned the killings? Why has there been no national mourning, no tough words against those shedding innocent blood?
As the nation mourns and questions mount, one thing is clear — silence in the face of evil is complicity. Nigeria’s people deserve a leader who speaks for the dead, comforts the living, and draws a firm line between justice and terror. Until then, victims will continue to feel unseen, unheard, and abandoned by the very government sworn to protect them.
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