Insecurity: The Gumi option

By Victoria Ngozi Ikeano

SIR: Borno State governor Babagana Zulum recently expressed regret that the programme of amnesty for so-called repentant terrorists is not yielding fruit as envisaged. “Quite often, those who have passed through this initiative usually go back and rejoin the terror group after mastering the various security arrangements in their host communities during the reintegration process”, he said. Also, ceasefires negotiated by some of the state governments failed as there was soon resurgence of banditry in those states. Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara on his part blamed this on saboteurs while his counterpart in Katsina, Aminu Masari pinned it on insincerity on the part of bandits.  A reason why ‘operation safe corridor’ and the agreements reached between some bandits and state governments was unsustainable is lack of spiritual input.

This is where we have to give Sheikh Gumi the benefit of doubt in his new dealings with them.  Gumi remarked of them, “I find them to be religious; religion is the only thing that teaches you that blood has sanctity. So this is the religious angle. Am trying to gather them and teach them that there is sanctity to life; they cannot kill, rape and so on. This is the addition I hope will work; so we approach them as clergy, from the spiritual angle. You know every human being has that spiritual influence and that is why we are adopting that”.   It does not mean that all the bandits, kidnappers, insurgents will immediately fall in line nor does it follow that all their sins will automatically be forgiven them. This lie in the workings of the Laws of GOD in which is embedded His incorruptible Justice and Love.

This spiritual angle should be only for those in whom can still be awakened the spark of good volition within them. As human spirits we all have this spark planted in us as the link to our spiritual home in paradise. For most of us this spark is to all intents and purposes ‘dead’ but not altogether buried because we have strayed far away from the Will of GOD in thoughts, words and deeds.  It can be awakened through experience or other encounters. Recall the Biblical story of Saul who once persecuted the early Christians but became an advocate of the Message of Christ after an experience during one of his journeys, changing his name to Paul. Thus only those of the bandits that show an earnest longing to obey/ live in accordance with the commandments of GOD, the Creator may be helped. The others should be left to their self-chosen path to perdition. Reformation alone is the living road to the forgiveness of sins’. The federal and state governments should consider both the carrot and stick approaches in tackling security challenges.

• Victoria Ngozi Ikeano, Lafia, Nasarawa State.