Islamic scholar, Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has thrown his weight behind the creation of the Nigerian Forest Security Service as part of efforts to rid forests across the country of bandits.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the cleric also urged the proposed security outfit to apply decisive military force in confronting criminal elements hiding in forested areas.
Gumi made the remarks on Tuesday during his Ramadan Tafsir in Kaduna, where he warned against the use of aerial bombardments in anti-banditry operations
. He cautioned that such tactics could lead to heavy civilian casualties.
He referenced the tragic episode in Tudun Biri, located in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where more than 100 residents were reportedly killed in an accidental airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force.
While stressing the need for firm and coordinated action against banditry, the cleric argued that deploying bombs in forest operations carries grave risks for innocent communities living within or near the affected areas.
Gumi further observed that bandit groups in some parts of the country have grown more violent and ruthless, a situation he attributed to alleged external influences seeking to destabilise Nigeria.
He noted that the development appeared to confirm his earlier warnings that bandit groups could transform into fully fledged terrorist organisations if not decisively tackled.
The cleric therefore urged authorities to adopt strategies capable of dislodging criminal elements from forest strongholds while prioritising the safety and protection of civilian populations.
