Aishah Waliyullah and Grace Adeleke
Controversial Islamic cleric and self-styled bandit negotiator, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has stirred fresh controversy after alleging that the Nigerian government possesses detailed intelligence on every terrorist operating in the country, including their names and locations.
The Kaduna-based cleric made the claim during a televised interview, suggesting that authorities are fully aware of the identities and hideouts of armed groups responsible for years of violence across parts of the country.
According to him, his frequent visits to bandit camps were carried out with the knowledge and presence of security agencies.
“The Nigerian government knows every terrorist by name and by location. I don’t go alone. I go with the police, the army and other security operatives,” Gumi said during the interview.
He added that during one of such visits, he had to travel with women to meet a terrorist leader in his camp.
Gumi’s comments, which have since gone viral on social media platform X, have triggered widespread reactions, with many Nigerians questioning why the country’s protracted insecurity crisis persists if the government truly has such detailed intelligence.
For several years, the cleric has positioned himself as an informal mediator between authorities and armed bandits operating mainly in the North-West, often claiming access to remote camps hidden in forest areas security agencies say are difficult to penetrate.
His latest revelation has, however, raised concerns among critics who argue that his ability to access bandit enclaves under security escort appears to contradict official claims that locating and neutralising the groups remains a major operational challenge.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the Nigerian Army had yet to issue any official response to the allegation.
The silence from authorities has further fuelled debates online, with some commentators interpreting it as a possible indication that the cleric’s claims may not be entirely unfounded.
The development has dominated discussions on X in Nigeria, where many users are demanding clarity from the Federal Government.
Several commentators have also renewed calls for decisive action against terrorist groups, arguing that if security agencies indeed possess precise intelligence about their identities and locations, the ongoing attacks across parts of the country should be easier to contain.
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