Controversial Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has refuted allegations that certain individuals are funding terrorism in Nigeria, asserting that the bandits responsible for such acts are self-sufficient due to the vast sums they amass through kidnapping.
His remarks follow the recent release of 15 entities, including individuals and Bureau De Change operators, accused of involvement in financing terrorism by the Nigerian government.
Speaking during an interview on Daily Trust X Space, Sheikh Gumi emphasized that only the judiciary possesses the authority to label someone a terrorism financier. He called for concerted government efforts to address the root causes of banditry in the country, highlighting the lucrative nature of ransom payments, which reportedly amount to billions of Naira.
Addressing the ongoing debate over terrorism financing, Sheikh Gumi dismissed the notion that Nigerians would willingly fund such activities, attributing the financial resources of bandits to ransom payments extracted from kidnapped victims. He urged caution against hastily implicating political adversaries in terrorism financing accusations, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics at play.