Group Wants Gumi Arrested Over Comment On Christian Soldiers Killing Bandits

Foremost rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest of a popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi for alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA berated the Nigerian Army for failing to take practical and law-based action against Gumi.

The right group also knocked the Nigerian Army for not protecting its image, integrity, and credibility, thereby allowing to bring the institution to disrepute.

It, however, described the remarks by Gumi wherein he cast aspersions on Christian soldiers in the country as “incitement to violence.”

“The Nigerian Army is a thoroughly disciplined force and as a creation of the law, the citizens do not expect the hierarchy to stand by and issue only verbal warning to someone who encouraged terrorists to go after some military officers only because they are Christians who he accused wrongly as those who have been deployed to kill the terrorists.

“Sheikh Gumi committed treason and the penalty for treason is not to be issued a verbal warning. Why were the members of Eastern Security Network who did no wrong but volunteered to protect their ancestral lands from terrorists bombarded but Sheikh Gumi who openly called for violence against Christian members of the Army is only just being given warning?” it asked.

It further noted that the comments “have caused immeasurable harm to the Nigerian Army and the morale of her members.

HURIWA said the Nigerian military is the most unifying institution where tongues, tribes or religion are relegated to the background,” with emphasis on absolute loyalty to the Nigerian constitution.