Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Christopher G. Musa (rtd.), has issued a strong warning to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other Nigerians against offering verbal, moral, or ideological support to bandits and terrorist groups.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the defence minister cautioned that any form of association with criminal elements undermines national security efforts.
“A friend of a thief is a thief,” Musa stated, warning Nigerians against supporting terrorists and bandits either directly or indirectly.
Response to Banditry Narratives
According to the minister, the statement was neither symbolic nor accidental but a direct response to previous comments attributed to Sheikh Gumi, who had reportedly described bandits hiding in forests as “our brothers” and suggested that society could not function without them.
Musa stressed that while compassion is a human value, it must not cross the line into justification or normalization of criminal violence.
He noted that such rhetoric strengthens criminal networks responsible for widespread insecurity, displacement of communities, and the loss of innocent lives across northern Nigeria.
Drawing the Line Between Empathy and Complicity
The defence minister emphasized that referring to bandits as “brothers” does not reduce violence but instead legitimizes criminal actions and weakens the resolve of security agencies.
He warned that terrorism thrives not only on weapons but also on moral and ideological cover provided by influential voices.
“Anyone who excuses, defends, or shields criminals through words, influence, or silence shares responsibility for the consequences,” the statement said.
Call for National Unity Against Insecurity
Musa further stated that Nigeria cannot successfully combat banditry and terrorism if narratives continue to blur the distinction between victims and perpetrators.
He urged Nigerians to take a clear stand in matters of national security, stressing that neutrality enables crime.
The minister concluded by calling on citizens to support the rule of law and ongoing efforts by security forces to restore peace, warning that those who legitimize criminality risk being counted among its enablers.
