The leader of Boko Haram terrorists, Abubakar Shekau, has lambasted Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, for negotiating with bandits.
Mr Gumi had recently embarked on a tour to armed bandits’ hideouts in the forests to strike peace deal with the criminals.
The cleric’s tour had drawn mixed reactions among Nigerians, with many, including the governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, condemning the move.
But in a two minutes audio now circulating online, the terrorists leader said Mr Gumi is among those who is deliberately transgressing.
“Oh Ya Ahmad Gumi! Oh Ahmad Gumi, now you are wandering around, addressing Fulanis, and thinking you are serving God.
“Just because you are called doctor or sheikh? Woe unto you, Ahmad Gumi!
Quoting chapter 7:175 of the Qur’an, the terrorists leader said of Mr Gumi: “And relate to them O Prophet the story of the one to whom We gave Our signs, but he abandoned them, so Satan took hold of him, and he became a deviant.”
Mr Shekau also faulted the minister of Communication and Digital Economy, who is a Muslim cleric, for joining a government under democratic setting.
“To you (Gumi) and others like Pantami, who is even a minister, huh? And still a cleric? Ask yourself! Oh clerics who savour the taste of power seasonings, ask yourselves!
“You all know democracy is the ideology of Jews and Christians, why didn’t you leave government?
“Despite knowing the truth, you are using the Qur’an to preach democracy. Why this?”
The Boko Haram leader concluded his message by issuing threats against a UK-based Nigerian lawyer and analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bulama Bukarti.
“So they (Westerners) have kept you, and you think you have the right to speak against those fighting? Know that you can’t speak against Allah,” Mr Shekau concluded.
(Daily Nigerian)