According to a report by Vanguard on Monday, May 18, 2026, controversial Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has faced strong backlash from Nigerians on social media after comments in which he appeared to suggest that armed groups involved in kidnapping depend on ransom payments to fund their operations.…....
The remarks, which quickly sparked outrage online, were interpreted by many as an attempt to explain or contextualise the activities of bandit groups operating in parts of the country.
Gumi was quoted as saying that such groups were under intense pressure from security forces and therefore rely on money from kidnappings to sustain their activities.
“The terrorists need all the money they’re getting from kidnapping. It’s not like they are living luxurious lives; the government is putting too much pressure on them so they need money to finance their war machines,” he was quoted as saying during an interview with AIT News.
He further stated: “If they leave banditry, they won’t have source of financing their war machine,” suggesting that continued security pressure and military operations make it difficult for the groups to operate without financial support derived from criminal activities.
The controversy has since added to ongoing debates about insecurity and the role of public figures in addressing or commenting on violent crime in Nigeria.
