Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has declared his willingness to personally lead a campaign for amnesty for Nnamdi Kanu, the jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on the condition that Kanu publicly renounces violence.
Speaking on Channels Television’s morning programme, The Morning Brief, on Tuesday, Gumi said he would be “in the forefront” of calls for Kanu’s pardon, but only if the separatist leader shows “remorse” and “calls for peace.”
“This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed, if this same Kanu now shows remorse and also calls for peace, honestly, I will be in the forefront in calling for his pardon and amnesty for him,” he said.
Kanu was convicted by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on terrorism-related charges on 20 November 2025.
Gumi reiterated his long-standing belief that negotiation, not military force, is the most effective way to address insecurity in Nigeria. He argued that the Nigerian military is ill-equipped to fight guerrilla-style conflicts.
“Our army is not designed for a guerrilla war; no army is designed for that,” he said. “So, since we have people that are ready to put down their arms, then why do you always decide it has to be kinetic?”
He pointed out that even powerful nations have struggled with guerrilla-style warfare.
In his words, “Even America could not succeed in Afghanistan, even Israel could not succeed in a small strip of land. … no army is designed for the kind of people we are showing now.”
To justify his amnesty proposal, Gumi cited historical examples in Nigeria.
“Look, Shehu Shagari, our former president, gave amnesty to Ojukwu,” he said. “Look at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; he gave amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, who have also committed acts of terrorism. So this is how we are.”
On foreign involvement, he expressed strong opposition: “I don’t want foreign intervention. … Also, we don’t want the fire of religion to be ignited in Nigeria, because if it’s ignited, who can quench it? Our sovereignty is a red line. We can never accept foreigners to come into Nigeria, whatever the excuse is.”
Gumi pointed to recent improvements in Nigeria’s security situation, particularly on the notorious Abuja–Kaduna road, as evidence that his preferred approach can yield results.
According to him, “Look at the Abuja-Kaduna Road. Now everybody can ply it. Things are improving. I’m not saying it’s 100%. … Things are improving. Just give the government time and a chance.”
He urged Nigerians to rally behind the government’s efforts rather than pressuring it from abroad or seeking outside intervention.
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