Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi says he will support calls for the release of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu if Kanu expresses remorse over his past actions. Gumi stated this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Kanu was convicted on seven counts of terrorism by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Gumi said that if the IPOB leader renounces his past statements and appeals for peace, he would join those advocating for a presidential pardon.
He cited past instances where the Nigerian government granted amnesty to individuals involved in violent agitations, including former President Shehu Shagari’s pardon of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s amnesty for Niger Delta militants.
Gumi, a proponent of non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity, argued that dialogue remains essential, noting that various armed groups—including some Fulani herders—have previously shown willingness to negotiate. He questioned why the government insists on purely military solutions despite global examples of limited success against insurgencies.
The cleric’s comments come amid escalating insecurity across several states, where recent mass abductions of students and worshippers have intensified pressure on the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to intensify operations, though opposition figures have criticised the response as insufficient.
