The Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), has warned Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other Nigerians against any form of support or justification for bandits and terrorists operating in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that Musa issued the warning on Wednesday in a statement released in Maiduguri, stressing that those who sympathise with or defend criminal elements are complicit in their actions.
“A friend of a thief is a thief,” the defence minister said, cautioning Nigerians against supporting bandits and terrorists “in any form.”
According to the minister, the statement was deliberate and served as a direct response to narratives previously attributed to Sheikh Gumi, who had described bandits hiding in the bush as “our brothers” and argued that society could not do without them.
Musa said while compassion and empathy may have a place in conflict resolution, portraying bandits as brothers or normalising their activities undermines national security efforts and strengthens criminal networks responsible for widespread violence, displacement, and loss of lives across several communities.
He warned that such rhetoric blurs the line between victims and perpetrators and could weaken the country’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
The defence minister further noted that terrorism thrives not only through weapons but also through moral and social justification, adding that individuals who excuse, defend, or shield criminals through words or influence share responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
Musa stressed that Nigerians must take a clear position in matters of national security, insisting that neutrality is not an option in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
