By Suleiman Anyalewechi
In the aftermath of the abduction of about 137 school children in the Kuriga area of Kaduna State and the spate of banditry and kidnappings rocking parts of Northern Nigeria ,the Federal Government on Monday, March 25, 2024, said it has officially invited fiery Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, for questioning, insisting that neither Gumi nor any other persons is above the law.
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani early Sunday morning, March 24 announced the release of the abducted school children and their teachers.
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information who disclosed while briefing the Media at the Presidential Villa, noted that since Sheikh Gumi is not above the law, he has to account for his actions and statements, especially, when weighed against the interest of National security.
The Kaduna based Islamic preacher had, on the heels of the national and global outrage that trailed the mass abduction of the kuriga School children ,as usual, offered to mediate between the authorities and the criminal elements,a development that sparked even greater outrage among many Nigerians.
Before now, many people had alleged that the Cleric is one of the sponsors of insecurity in the North going by his numerous provocative statements about the activities of bandits and. kidnappers, with many also calling for his arrest .
According to the Information Minister, the Federal Government will go the whole hog in getting all the necessary information needed to halt the current spate of security challenges in the country.
“Sheikh Gumi or any other individuals are not above the law. If he has suggestions that are good enough and that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take . But if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
“When you make remarks, particularly, remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on our security to think further and they are doing just that. No one is above the law.” Idris noted
