The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Coaltion for Peace in Nigeria (COPIN) over a statement allegedly issued by Mr Emeka Akwuobi, calling for the arrest and prosecution of Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi.
The group had accused Gumi of working with bandits in the North.
The National President, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, Isah Abubakar, in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna, explained that COPIN should note that Sheikh Gumi’s interference was borne out of his desire to see his region and people enjoy security, peace and to protect human dignity in the Northern Nigeria.
The statement argued, “Where bandits have taken over and have institutionalized authorities, to find a lasting solution to the activities of bandits in the region, the involvement of Gumi at the time he did was not with any bad intentions rather to salvage our nation.”
The statement added, “Gumi’s call for amnesty was part of alternative dispute resolution mechanism that have worked for other part of the region and the world, he felt same can be applied to discontinued the activities of bandits/terrorists in the North and North West, moreover Gumi was not the first that call for such move, the Governor of Katsina and Zamfara have equally call for Amnesty for bandits at different time.”
It noted that the call by Akwuobi and his group could instigate a religious crisis in the country. It also accused Akwuobi of working for some elements.
The statement observed that the youths of Northern Nigeria remain resolute and supportive of every model that would be explored to bring an end to insecurity, but added that it would not tolerate any form of instigation against their leaders, especially the religious leaders.
The statement explained that it appreciated the effort of all security agencies to seeing that their region and highways return to normalcy for safety of travellers and community inhabitants and promised security agencies of their support at all time.
