- Sheikh Ahmad Gumi asserts that the bombing in Tudun Biri was deliberate, questioning the military’s claim of it being a mistake
- Gumi criticizes the military’s actions, stating that innocent villagers were targeted, emphasizing the need for peaceful resolutions to conflicts
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a renowned Islamic Scholar in Kaduna State, has stated that the Sunday bombing of villagers in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area, is deliberate.
The scholar stated that it was wrong to target women and children, including the elderly, during wartime, but the military decided otherwise, believing they were terrorists’ families.
The scholar, who was delivering his weekly lecture at Kaduna’s Sultan Bello Mosque, questioned whether the first bomb dropped on the people was a mistake, as claimed, and what about the second bomb, which targeted those evacuating the bodies 30 minutes later, as claimed by the villagers.
According to him, God exposed some of the atrocities committed by the military in the forest, claiming that he had been warning people that innocent villagers were being targeted by security forces in the forest but that no one listened.
“I kept telling you not to invite people who see war as a solution,” he said, “but people refused to listen.” It’s finally here. War is never a laughing matter because it affects everyone. I warned you about this, but you still believe they should be killed.
“It will be you who is killed. That bomb was intended to kill the children and wives of some people’s families. I visited a village in a remote forest where women and children were massacred.
“A large number of people have been bombed. Nobody said anything until they got closer to the city. I’ve been saying that whatever is between us, whether bandits or Boko Haram, should be resolved peacefully.
“Nobody can tell me anything in this country; I tried to solve the problem, but we were not supported.” The government was using a double standard, believing that they could win through war while also believing that they could win through negotiation.
“These people gathered in a location where women and children were, and the drones had cameras, so they saw the people but suspected they were children and wives of some people.” If they got the families of those people, I’m sure you’d all justify it.
“However, they inadvertently targeted people who were not their intended audience.” Nobody, in our opinion, should be the target of such bombings. This is because killing women and children, including the elderly, is wrong, and we do not support it, even if they are IPOB members.
“We will never condone the murder of IPOB wives and children.” Face-to-face combat is preferable to bombing people. After all, nobody is going to bomb IPOB. Did you hear anyone dropping bombs on those attacking Fulani settlements in Oyo?
“These bombs were designed to target certain people specifically, but God exposed them because He was not pleased with the deaths of innocent people.” We pray that the victims died as martyrs. But no one should ever tell me I made a mistake. No, it was done on purpose because the target was intended for someone else. Whoever planted the bomb should be brought to justice.
“The people claimed that the first bomb killed some people and that the second bomb was dropped 30 minutes later.” Should the second bomb be a mistake if the first bomb was a mistake?”
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