Following the call for the arrest of the Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has warned that anyone who touches the scholar will have it to contend with.
NYCN in a press statement issued on Thursday signed by its National President, Comrade Isah Abubakar, expressed concerns over the call by some individuals, under the aegis of Coalition for Peace in Nigeria (COPIN), that the Department for State Services (DSS) should arrest Gumi over alleged romance with bandits and terrorist groups.
The statement reads, “it is important that the so call faceless group leaders should note that Gumi interference was born out of his desire to see his region and people enjoy security, restore peace and protect human dignity in the North and North-West in particular, where bandits have taken over institutionalised authorities.
“He got involved to find a lasting solution to the activities of bandits in the region, and his involvement at the time he did was not with any bad intentions but rather to salvage our nation.
“Gumi’s call for amnesty was part of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms that have worked for other parts of the region and the world. He felt the same can be applied to check the activities of the criminals in the North and North’West.
“Moreover, Gumi was not the first to have called for such a move, the Governors of Katsina and Zamfara States have equally called for amnesty for bandits at different times.
According to NYCN, the faceless, Emeka Akwuobi’s call was a malicious one and very instigative that can ignite a religious war in a country, that is currently bedevilled by insecurity.
“Akwuobi should quickly be arrested so that he can unveil his sponsors, that are using him to push the country into war by his careless statement.
“The Youth of Northern Nigeria will support every model that will be explored to bring an end to insecurity, but we will not tolerate any form of instigation against our leaders, especially our religious leaders.
“We appreciate the efforts of all security agencies working tirelessly to see that our region and highways return back to normalcy, and the safety of travellers and members of the community,” the statement further reads.