Government Knows Every Terrorist By Name, Location— Sheikh Gumi

Prominent Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi has claimed that the Federal Government of Nigeria possesses detailed intelligence on the identities and exact locations of terrorists operating in the country.

The Kaduna-based cleric made the assertion during an interview on DRTV while addressing long-standing accusations that he personally knows, interacts with, and advocates for terrorists and bandits in Nigeria’s north-west region.

“The government knows every terrorist by name and location,” Gumi said.

He also defended his past involvement in negotiations with armed groups, insisting that he never conducted such engagements independently.

“I don’t go alone to negotiate; I go with the police, military, and other security agencies. I would go to the emirs. In fact, when we went to one forest, I even went with women into the bush,” he added.

Gumi’s remarks appear to push back against criticisms portraying him as sympathetic to armed groups, while suggesting that if authorities indeed possess such precise intelligence, questions remain about why insecurity persists.

The Islamic scholar, a former medical doctor and army captain, has long remained a controversial figure in Nigeria’s security discourse.

He has repeatedly advocated dialogue and negotiation with bandit groups as an alternative to purely military confrontation, arguing that many of the fighters are driven by socio-economic grievances rather than ideology.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no immediate response from the federal government or security agencies to Gumi’s latest claims.