Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said that education and poverty alleviation remain the best ways to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.
Gumi stated this in a Facebook post on Thursday while commenting on poverty reduction and its link to national stability.
The Kaduna-based cleric shared a video highlighting how China reportedly lifted about 878 million people, representing 88 percent of its population, out of extreme poverty between 1981 and 2020.
According to the video cited by Gumi, the Chinese government treated poverty elimination as a national mission and pursued policies aimed at improving the living conditions of its citizens.
Reacting to the video, Gumi said Nigeria must pay closer attention to education and economic empowerment if it intends to address the root causes of insecurity.
“The best way to fight insecurity is through education and poverty alleviation,” he said.
Gumi has remained a vocal commentator on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly banditry and terrorism in parts of the North.
He has repeatedly argued that military operations alone cannot end insecurity, especially in areas affected by banditry and guerrilla-style violence.
The cleric has also advocated dialogue, negotiation, rehabilitation and amnesty for repentant bandits, comparing such an approach to past government programmes for Niger Delta militants and pardons granted in other national security contexts.
His position has often generated public debate, with critics accusing him of being too sympathetic to armed groups, while his supporters argue that long-term peace requires addressing poverty, illiteracy and social exclusion.
Gumi’s latest comment comes amid continuing concerns over killings, kidnappings and bandit attacks in several parts of the country, with security experts and religious leaders calling for a combination of law enforcement, intelligence, education, economic reform and community engagement to address the crisis.
