Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said he would support the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), bandits and other armed groups if they agree to lay down their arms and engage in dialogue with the Nigerian government.

Gumi made the remarks during an interview with DRTV, where he stressed that peaceful negotiations remain the best path to ending insecurity in the country.

According to him, armed groups must be willing to abandon violence and participate in dialogue with the government before gaining his support.

“Dialogue can bring peace and we are men of peace. Even IPOB, which was once into secession, are ready to put down their arms and come to a roundtable to discuss. I’m ready and would support them. All we don’t want is violence,” he said.

The cleric also pointed to growing mistrust between citizens and the government, saying the country must explore broader strategies to address insecurity.

He argued that tackling Nigeria’s security challenges requires not only military action but also non-kinetic measures, including improvements in infrastructure, electricity supply, healthcare and education.

“What are the experts saying now in dealing with the situation in Nigeria? Some percentage of it should be non-kinetic. Look at the road network, it is terribly bad; electricity is erratic and very expensive; healthcare is poor, and education is struggling,” he said.

Gumi added that addressing such socio-economic challenges could help reduce the conditions that fuel insecurity across the country.