Gumi: Government Knows Every Terrorist by Name and Location

Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Abubakar Gumi has made a striking allegation that the Nigerian government possesses detailed knowledge of the identities and whereabouts of terrorists operating within the country’s borders.

Gumi made the claim in an interview with DRTV that went viral on Tuesday, amid mounting criticism over his longstanding practice of engaging directly with armed groups in northern Nigeria.

The scholar was responding to accusations that he maintains personal relationships with terrorists and bandits, and acts as an unofficial spokesperson for their interests. Rather than deny the contacts, he reframed them, insisting that security agencies are present and involved whenever such engagements take place.

“The government knows every terrorist by name and by location,” he said. “I don’t go alone to negotiate — I go with the police and other security agencies.”

Gumi also revealed that some of these missions have taken him to the courts of traditional rulers and deep into forests believed to serve as bandit hideouts. “I would go to the Emirs. In fact, when we went to one forest, I even went with women into the bush,” he added.

The cleric has been a polarising figure in Nigeria’s security debate for years. He has consistently championed dialogue with armed groups in the North West and North Central regions, arguing that negotiation rather than military force alone offers the most realistic path to lasting peace and disarmament. Critics, however, question whether such engagement legitimises criminal actors and undermines the state’s authority.

His latest comments are likely to intensify that debate, raising fresh questions about the gap between the government’s stated counterterrorism posture and what it may know but has yet to act on.