Prominent Nigerian cleric summoned over banditry remarks

A Nigerian Muslim cleric has been summoned over his call for talks and amnesty for criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, local media report.

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a former army captain based in northern Kaduna state, has frequently offered to mediate between local authorities and the gangs, blamed for rising cases of kidnapping in the country.

Recently, the cleric is reported to have offered to dialogue with kidnappers for the release of the dozens of pupils who were captured by gunmen earlier this month from a school in the north-western town of Kuriga.

But Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani said Mr Gumi was not involved in the safe return of the pupils.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris on Monday said security agencies had invited Mr Gumi for questioning, noting that the cleric "is not above the law".

“When you make remarks, especially those that border on our national security, it is incumbent on our national security to think further, and they are doing just that," Mr Idris was quoted as saying.

Mr Gumi has previously claimed to have met bandit leaders to abandon their kidnapping activities.