Gumi Defends Comparative Statement, Citing Moral Hierarchy in BBC Interview
KADUNA, NIGERIA — Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has once again sparked debate after stating that the abduction of schoolchildren constitutes a “lesser evil” when compared to the killing of soldiers.
Speaking in an interview published by the BBC on Tuesday, Gumi addressed the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria, which has seen an alarming rise in both banditry and attacks targeting security personnel.
The Comparison of Evils
Gumi did not mince words, acknowledging that while both acts are severely condemnable, they do not possess equal severity in a moral context. He defended his earlier remarks by asserting that his comparison was rooted in establishing a moral hierarchy rather than endorsing any form of criminality.
“Saying that kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers — definitely it is lesser,” Gumi was quoted as saying.
Context and Previous Stances
The cleric has been a figure of national scrutiny for several years due to his perceived role as a mediator between security agencies and bandit groups responsible for mass kidnappings in Nigeria’s North-West region.
His latest comments are likely to draw further criticism from security experts, government officials, and the public, particularly given the immense psychological and socio-economic trauma caused by the mass abduction of students—an issue that has severely hampered education in the region.
The core of Gumi’s argument appears to hinge on a perceived difference in the loss of life and the nature of violence, placing the killing of state security agents at a higher level of moral
