IPOB Killing Our Armed Forces, Herdsmen Only Kidnapping Children for Money, Says Gumi

Nigerian Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has dismissed
comparisons between the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and armed herdsmen.

According to him, members of the proscribed IPOB carry out
deadly attacks on men of the country’s military and on state
facilities while herdsmen only engage in kidnapping children for
financial rewards.

Mr Gumi stated this on Wednesday when he appeared on ARISE News,
The Morning Show. He however called on the federal government to
hold talks with IPOB as well as armed herdsmen and bandits to get
to know the issues behind their agitations.

He told ARISE News that the herdsmen are willing to cooperate
with the federal government to put an end to their acts of
terrorism.

Bandits have kidnapped over 800 school children across the north
since December 2020.

The security challenge has led to the death several students,
notably the killing of five Greenfield University students.

Since IPOB launched its militia arm called Eastern Security
Network (ESN) a few months ago, attacks on security operatives and
government infrastructure have surged. A number of security
operatives have been killed by the militia.

Nigerian Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has dismissed
comparisons between the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and armed herdsmen.

According to him, members of the proscribed IPOB carry out
deadly attacks on men of the country’s military and on state
facilities while herdsmen only engage in kidnapping children for
financial rewards.

Mr Gumi stated this on Wednesday when he appeared on ARISE News,
The Morning Show. He however called on the federal government to
hold talks with IPOB as well as armed herdsmen and bandits to get
to know the issues behind their agitations.

He told ARISE News that the herdsmen are willing to cooperate
with the federal government to put an end to their acts of
terrorism.

Bandits have kidnapped over 800 school children across the north
since December 2020.

The security challenge has led to the death several students,
notably the killing of five Greenfield University students.

Since IPOB launched its militia arm called Eastern Security
Network (ESN) a few months ago, attacks on security operatives and
government infrastructure have surged. A number of security
operatives have been killed by the militia.