Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, has explained the reasons he disowned the terrorists who kill, kidnap and rap people in northern Nigeria.
He said he no longer had anything to do with them, following their declaration as terrorists by the court.
Gumi is known for demanding amnesty for bandits who are said to have killed thousands and abducted many, including schoolchildren.
Speaking in an interview with an online newspaper, Premium Times, on Wednesday, the cleric said he would no longer mediate for bandits.
He said: “Since the federal government has declared them terrorists, I don’t have anything to do with them anymore.
“I will not like to expose myself to danger again and to put a spotlight on myself unnecessarily. I have tried all I could do to admonish the nation on the best way to do it, but it seems my advice has fallen on deaf ears.
“I have endangered my life for peace by going to the forest and engaging the bandits. Among them are rock bandits, dangerous, armed, ready to fire.
“Maybe in the future when the political situation changes for the better, we can do it again so that there will be peace, harmony and tranquillity in the country.”
