Kidnapping Schoolchildren is Lesser Evil Compared to Killing Soldiers – Sheikh Gumi

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s Controversial Statement on Kidnapping and Killing

Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has stirred nationwide debate after declaring that kidnapping schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” compared to killing soldiers.

His remarks, made during an interview with the BBC, have drawn sharp criticism and intense public scrutiny.

In his statement, Gumi acknowledged that both kidnapping and killing are acts of evil, but he insisted that they differ in moral severity. He argued that while abducting minors is reprehensible, it does not equate to the finality of murder, particularly in cases where victims are eventually released unharmed. “Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers, definitely it is lesser. Killing is worse than kidnapping, but they are all evil. Not all evils are of the same power,” he explained.

The cleric cited past incidents of mass abductions, such as those in Kebbi and Niger States, where hostages were freed without fatalities. He suggested that these outcomes, though traumatic, were preferable to the irreversible loss of life that comes with killing soldiers. His comments came amid renewed insecurity in Nigeria, including the abduction of over 300 students and teachers in Niger State, some of whom were later released or escaped.

Gumi’s remarks were framed within his broader call for dialogue with bandits. He has long advocated negotiation rather than military confrontation, arguing that the Nigerian army alone cannot end banditry. He emphasized that many bandits are Fulani herdsmen engaged in what he described as an “existential struggle,” and that engaging them in dialogue could prevent further bloodshed.

The cleric also challenged the popular stance that governments should never negotiate with terrorists. He claimed that neither religious scripture nor global practice supports such an absolute position.

According to him, countries that publicly reject negotiations often engage in them privately when necessary. “That phrase, ‘we don’t negotiate with terror,’ I don’t know where they got it from,” he said.

His comments have provoked outrage among security analysts, government officials, and members of the public, who argue that equating the abduction of children with any form of “lesser evil” risks normalizing criminality.

Critics contend that such rhetoric undermines efforts to combat banditry and terrorism, while others see it as a dangerous justification for crimes against vulnerable populations.

Despite the backlash, Gumi has maintained that his position is not an endorsement of kidnapping but a moral comparison intended to highlight the hierarchy of evils. He insists that dialogue remains the only viable path to peace, warning that continued reliance on military force will only escalate violence and deepen Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

Sheikh Gumi’s statement has reignited debates about Nigeria’s approach to insecurity, the ethics of negotiation with armed groups, and the moral framing of crimes against civilians. His assertion that kidnapping schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” than killing soldiers underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges and the divisive discourse surrounding possible solutions.