Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has strongly condemned calls for the killing of repentant insurgents and secessionists, describing such actions as a violation of both religious teachings and international legal principles. In a Facebook post on Friday, 10 July 2026, Gumi warned that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is closely monitoring developments in Nigeria and urged those advocating for extrajudicial measures to consider the legal and spiritual consequences of their stance. The cleric's remarks come days after the Senate and House of Representatives separately called on the Federal Government to discontinue rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for repentant terrorists, kidnappers and bandits, and instead ensure that individuals found guilty of terrorism and related offences face immediate prosecution. The lawmakers argued that rehabilitating convicted criminals amounts to rewarding impunity while victims continue to suffer, and insisted that justice must be seen to be done to restore public confidence in the country's criminal justice system.
According to Gumi, killing repentant insurgents, secessionists or prisoners of war is morally indefensible and inconsistent with the principles of Islamic jurisprudence and international humanitarian law. He stressed that adopting the same approach as terrorist groups by eliminating perceived enemies only undermines morality and does not contribute to winning conflicts. He said: "Killing repentant Insurgents and secessionists is against religious and international law. So also prisoners of war. ICC is listening if you don't fear Allah. Where is morality? It's the same logic terrorists employ to kill all others besides them. Emotions don't win a war." The cleric further maintained that emotions should not dictate decisions in the fight against insecurity, and that a more measured, legally sound approach is required to address Nigeria's complex security challenges.
The Senate resolution, which was adopted during plenary on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, followed a motion that condemned the growing frequency of attacks targeting serving and retired military personnel, and demanded that terrorists be prosecuted rather than rewarded with rehabilitation programmes. The lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of Major General Rabe Abubakar and other victims of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and violent crimes across the country. The House of Representatives aligned itself with the Senate's position, urging the Federal Government to put an end to the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant terrorists, arguing that those responsible for heinous crimes should face the full weight of the law.
Gumi, who has long advocated for dialogue, amnesty and non-kinetic approaches to resolving Nigeria's security crises, has previously argued that many bandits are willing to surrender but fear arrest or retaliation after laying down their arms. He has urged the government to introduce a structured amnesty programme to encourage repentant fighters to disarm, and has repeatedly warned against the dangers of relying solely on military force to defeat insurgency and banditry. He has also denied allegations that he supports banditry, insisting that his engagements with armed groups are aimed at restoring peace and that he has been repeatedly misquoted in media interviews and public discussions.
The cleric's latest intervention has reignited the debate over how Nigeria should handle repentant insurgents and bandits, with some commentators supporting the lawmakers' call for prosecution and others backing Gumi's argument for rehabilitation and reintegration. The Federal Government is yet to officially respond to the Senate and House of Representatives' resolutions, but the military has previously stated that repentant terrorists undergo thorough investigation and profiling to determine their level of involvement in the insurgency before being considered for deradicalisation programmes or prosecution. As the debate continues, Gumi's warning that the ICC is watching serves as a stark reminder of the legal and diplomatic risks associated with any policy that could be construed as violating international humanitarian law.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments