Boko Haram Kidnapped Greenfield University Students, Not Bandits Says Sheikh Gumi

Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, says Boko Haram members are the ones
behind the abduction of the students of Greenfield University,
Kaduna.

The students were abducted on April 18. Armed men stormed the
school and abducted 22 students and a teacher. Five of the students
have been killed by the gunmen. There are fears that more might be
killed.

One of the abductors granted an interview over the weekend with
Hausa Service of the Voice of America, where he threatened that
other students might be killed if the ransom for their release is
not paid. Read here.

In an interview with AIT today May 4, Sheik Gumi said Boko Haram
members were behind the abduction. When asked by the reporter if he
indeed mentioned that Boko Haram were behind the abduction, Sheik
Gumi said

”Yes, really because when we tried to trace them and put some
sense into them, the contact who is also a Nomadic Fulani, they
threatened him. They said if he insists on them they were going to
catch him and he will have to pay ransom before he gets out.

And the leader is from Jalingo. He is from Adamawa. He is not
the local fulani we have here. So this means that North-Eastern
element is coming into this area and we have to move fast. We don’t
have that luxury of time.

I have been trying to speak with government but nobody is really
trying to listen to me or speak with me on this issue.

We are trying to pacify and remove this banditry and they are
responding.”

Reacting to the decision of the Kaduna state government not to
negotiate with bandits, Sheik Gumi said

“Five souls were killed. Why? What amount of money is too big
for us to save the lives of those five students, what amount of
money? secondly, we can give them the money to get the boys out of
danger then go after our money. Nobody is saying you shouldn’t find
them..you can get the two back.

TO say you will not negotiate with them and also not take action
against them, I cannot understand that.”

Islamic cleric, Sheik Gumi, says Boko Haram members are the ones
behind the abduction of the students of Greenfield University,
Kaduna.

The students were abducted on April 18. Armed men stormed the
school and abducted 22 students and a teacher. Five of the students
have been killed by the gunmen. There are fears that more might be
killed.

One of the abductors granted an interview over the weekend with
Hausa Service of the Voice of America, where he threatened that
other students might be killed if the ransom for their release is
not paid. Read here.

In an interview with AIT today May 4, Sheik Gumi said Boko Haram
members were behind the abduction. When asked by the reporter if he
indeed mentioned that Boko Haram were behind the abduction, Sheik
Gumi said

”Yes, really because when we tried to trace them and put some
sense into them, the contact who is also a Nomadic Fulani, they
threatened him. They said if he insists on them they were going to
catch him and he will have to pay ransom before he gets out.

And the leader is from Jalingo. He is from Adamawa. He is not
the local fulani we have here. So this means that North-Eastern
element is coming into this area and we have to move fast. We don’t
have that luxury of time.

I have been trying to speak with government but nobody is really
trying to listen to me or speak with me on this issue.

We are trying to pacify and remove this banditry and they are
responding.”

Reacting to the decision of the Kaduna state government not to
negotiate with bandits, Sheik Gumi said

“Five souls were killed. Why? What amount of money is too big
for us to save the lives of those five students, what amount of
money? secondly, we can give them the money to get the boys out of
danger then go after our money. Nobody is saying you shouldn’t find
them..you can get the two back.

TO say you will not negotiate with them and also not take action
against them, I cannot understand that.”