Drop Your Guns And Surrender To Nigerian Government - Islamic Group Tells Bandits, Sends Strong Warning To Gumi

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a warning against trivializing bandit and herder offences.

The group detailed the punishments for bandits in the Qur'an, which included execution or crucifixion, chopping off their hands and legs on opposing sides, and banishment.

It is no longer news that a Kaduna-based Islamic preacher has defended the bandits, saying that despite their crimes, they are not criminals.

Gumi stated earlier this week in an interview on Arise Television that government security agencies must cease executing criminals, adding that they, too, are victims.

However, MURIC warned against trivializing bandit acts in a statement signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization's head.

The group warned against making excuses for the crimes perpetrated by these bandits around the country, instead urging the Islamic cleric to educate the public on the Shariah's position on banditry.

“We should also let the bandits know the gravity of their crimes and the ‘kabiirah’ status of their sins,” MURIC added.

“It says, ‘The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger by spreading evil and committing atrocities in the land is either execution, or crucifiction or cutting off their hands and legs from opposite sides or sending them into exile. That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment awaits them in the Hereafter’ (Qur’an 5:33).

“Note should be taken of the promise of ‘heavy punishment’ for bandits even after death. It is for this reason that we are calling on all Islamic scholars in the country to boldly rise to the task and interprete the Shariah in a befitting manner.

“We therefore reiterate our call on all bandits and herdsmen who are traumatising Nigerians in Zamfara, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Yobe, etc, to surrender without delay,” MURIC said.

“The atrocities committed by bandits and criminal herdsmen in all parts of the country should be fiercely confronted by state governments.

“Nigeria today is being slowly strangulated by two extremists, namely, those who idolise bandits and those who demonise ethnicities. Both groups are two extremes that must be deradicalised as quickly as possible.”

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had earlier accused Gumi of being the brain behind banditry, kidnapping and high rise of terrorism in the country.

MURIC observed that banditry is classified in Islam as waging unprovoked war against the people, Allah, and the great Prophet Muhammad, and called for all bandits to submit to state governments without any kind of negotiation.