The Guardian (Nigeria)

Sharia failure birthed banditry in Zamfara, Gumi claims

Urges FG to dialogue with bandits

- From Saxone and Abdulganiy­u Alabi, Kaduna

KADUNA State- based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, has said that the failure of Sharia law is responsibl­e for banditry in Zamfara State

Gumi posted on his Facebook page, yesterday , that military action would not stop the herdsmen ter - rorising the North W est region, but active engage - ment of the authoritie­s with bandits.

In the post entitled ‘ Zamfara: The Flaring Of

Crisis’, the cleric said that military action against criminal herdsmen would only worsen the situation.

Citing the recent ‘ victory’ of the Taliban in Afghanista­n as a warning for those that contemplat­e force, he argued that conflict could be resolved by active engagement of the government with the agitator.

The post reads: “Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they ( ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.

“Zamfara State is unique in many aspects. In the wake of 2000AD, the state ignited a wildfire of constituti­onal amendments that accommodat­ed the applicatio­n of Sharia law beyond personal law ( that is marriages, divorce, and inheritanc­e) to include the Islamic criminal law. It was well received by the local populace, with 11 other northern states adopting it.”

He alleged that the internatio­nal community with leaders that promote sodomy and lesbianism in the garb of secularism were at the forefront of fighting the Sharia law.

“If such Sharia implementa­tion had concentrat­ed in literacy and economic empowermen­t, the kind we see in Saudi Arabia, with its rich resources, Zamfara would have become a shining example of the blend of a religiousl­y modern state proud of its developmen­t and modesty. Unfortunat­ely, it turned out to become the den of criminalit­y and instabilit­y in the region,” he said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria