Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said Nigerians must accept the continued presence of herders across the country and focus on peaceful coexistence, warning that attempts to expel them would only deepen insecurity and social tension.
Gumi made the remarks in a video that surfaced on December 26, 2025, amid renewed national debate over farmer-herder clashes, grazing policies and rural insecurity.
In the footage, the cleric said herders are part of Nigeria’s social fabric and cannot realistically be driven out of any region.
According to him, portraying all herders as criminals is dangerous and counterproductive, noting that crimes such as kidnapping and banditry should be treated strictly as criminal acts rather than ethnic or occupational issues.
Gumi argued that many of the violent clashes stem from unresolved disputes over land use, shrinking grazing routes, climate pressure and weak local conflict-resolution mechanisms.
He said these factors, combined with population growth and poor governance, have intensified competition between farmers and pastoralists.
The cleric reiterated his long-standing position that dialogue and engagement must complement security operations, insisting that military action alone cannot resolve deeply rooted social conflicts.
He maintained that marginalisation and lack of access to education and economic opportunities among pastoral communities contribute significantly to insecurity.
He urged federal and state governments to implement practical solutions, including regulated grazing systems, structured ranching where feasible, education for nomadic communities and stronger community-level mediation frameworks.
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Gumi also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and local governments to intervene early in disputes to prevent violence.
His comments have generated mixed reactions nationwide.
While some Nigerians accuse him of downplaying the threat posed by armed groups operating in rural areas, others see his remarks as a pragmatic call for inclusion and conflict management in a country grappling with complex security challenges.
Gumi maintained that Nigeria’s diversity must be managed through justice and dialogue, stressing that peaceful coexistence remains unavoidable if the country is to achieve lasting stability.