Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has stirred controversy after asserting that the abduction of schoolchildren is a “lesser evil” compared to the killing of soldiers. Speaking in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, December 9, Gumi argued that Nigeria should negotiate with armed groups to prevent what he considers greater loss of life.
According to him, while both acts are wrong, not all forms of wrongdoing carry the same weight.
“Kidnapping children is a lesser evil than killing your soldiers. Killing is worse, though they are all wrong. It’s simply the lesser evil. Not all evils have the same magnitude,” he said.
Gumi referenced previous child-abduction incidents, including a mass kidnapping in Kebbi State, where the victims were eventually released unharmed.
“In Kebbi, they abducted children, and they were later freed. They didn’t kill them,” he added, insisting that dialogue remains the most practical means to reduce casualties.
The remarks have triggered strong reactions nationwide, with many condemning the comparison and questioning the implications of such a stance.
