Sheikh Abubakar Gumi
Days after the Nigerian Army warned Sheikh Abubakar Gumi for libeling it with false claims of colluding with bandits raving the many states in Norther Nigeria, the Directorate of State Service, DSS has invited the cleric for a chat. The Islamic cleric known for making controversial statements on banditry and hobnobbing with them was summoned to the DSS office in Kaduna State, according to the Hausa service of the Voice of America, monitored on Friday.
Although Dr Afunanya, DSS spokesman gave no reasons for the invitation, there are feelers that it might not be unconnected with the cleric’s recent remarks on the Nigerian Army. Gumi during an interview with Arise TV alleged that the army were colluding with bandits.
On this, Gumi’s spokesman, Malam Tukur Mamu in an interview with VOA Hausa, reportedly dismissed the allegation against Gumi, saying there was nowhere in the TV interview that Gumi categorically accused the entire military.
According to Mamu, what Gumi said was what people have been saying and “even the soldiers have been saying that there could be some bad eggs among them”.
He, therefore, urged the military and the TV company to apologise to Sheikh Gumi and retract their statements against him or else he will seek legal action.
