Sheikh Gumi, a well-known islamic cleric, says the Nigerian Goveremt is wrong to accuse its citizens as being terrorism financiers.
Gumi, who made these remarks during an X Space’s chat organised by the Daily Trust on Wednesday, claimed terrorists fund their operations through ransom paid by kidnapped victims’ families.
He also claimed that no Nigerians would fund terrorism, and he pointed to the recent abduction of 287 children in Kaduna State, for which the bandits are demanding for N1 billion.
“No Nigerian will put his money into terrorism, we’re beyond that,” he said. “These people are financing themselves by taking our children for ransom.
“So, how can we say some people are financing terrorism because there is a misunderstanding between them?
“Now they are looking for N1 billion for these children (kidnap victims) to be released. They (terrorists) financed themselves by kidnapping. I think it’s rubbish to just frame your political opponents as financing terrorism.”
Gumi’s reaction came days after the Federal Government released 15 names of financiers of terrorism, which l includes his ally, Tukur Mamu, who is also a publisher.
Mamu was arrested by the Federal Government following his involvement in the payment of ransom to the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train in march 2022.
Gumi believed that Mamu should be punished if found guilty of the charges against him.
“Mamu’s case is in the court. Let’s wait to hear from the court. It’s wrong to resort to media trial. Let’s wait for the court to state if he is a financier or not. I think if he is acquitted, he has a strong case to make on libel.
“Who declares someone a terrorist financer? Is it the court of law or a security agency? The security agency has no right to declare anyone a terrorist financier. The case is already in court, so why are they judging him on the pages of the newspaper? Once a case is in court, you allow the court to decide,” he added.