In continuation of his efforts to reach out to critical stakeholders to understand the enormity of the security crisis particularly in the North West and the best approach to the lingering imbroglio even with virtually no support and encouragement from the government, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud GUMI and his team had on Thursday visited the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Her Excellency Catriona Laing in her official residence in Abuja.
During the visit, Mrs Laing had assembled her team of principal officers at the Embassy to welcome Sheikh Gumi. The respected Sheikh and his team were entertained by the High Commissioner before they went into closed-door meeting that lasted for nearly two hours.
Mrs Laing at the end of the interaction with Sheikh Gumi said she is now better informed about the crisis of insecurity in the North West particularly related to armed Fulani bandits.
The team agreed that military solution alone cannot end the campaign of terror, killings and kidnapings by the bandits, and that the military approach did not stop the incessant killings and abductions particularly in Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna States.
High Commissioner Laing said her country will continue to support Nigeria in this trying times and assured Sheikh Gumi that she will reach out to all those concerned to share the thoughts of the British Government on how best to tackle the security concerns especially when farmers cannot go to farm in most communities.
It will be recalled that over 200 people were killed in the last one month alone in Zamfara State because of Governor Bello Matawalle’s inability to fulfill earlier commitments and his subsequent withdrawal from the peace treaty that was brokered by Sheikh Gumi with the bandits and his resolved to disengaged from the dialogue that hitherto save so many lives while economic activities including farming had then resumed.
Those in Sheikh Gumi’s entourage includes Prof. Usman Yusuf, DH Publisher, Mallam Tukur Mamu, Gen. Abdulkadir rtd, Col. Gumi rtd and Shehu Buba.
(DESERT HERALD)
