How Obasanjo Met Boko Haram Leaders” — Gumi Reveals Details

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo once held discussions with leaders of Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State, during which the insurgents allegedly agreed to surrender their weapons.

According to Ireporter Online, Gumi made the disclosure while advocating dialogue as part of the Federal Government’s strategy for addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

The cleric claimed that Obasanjo personally told him about the meeting, which he said took place during the early phase of the Boko Haram insurgency. According to Gumi, the group had expressed willingness to lay down its arms following the discussions.

Gumi alleged that the initiative later broke down because the government failed to act on commitments reportedly reached during the engagement. He added that Obasanjo returned from Borno State disappointed over the development.

“Look at Obasanjo; he told me this himself that, at the early stage of Boko Haram, he went to Maiduguri where he met with the leaders of Boko Haram and they agreed to lay down their arms,” Gumi said.

He added that Obasanjo was allegedly bitter after the government failed to take the expected action, suggesting that the former president could provide further details of the encounter.

Gumi also questioned the perception that negotiating with armed groups should be ruled out completely, noting that dialogue has been used in efforts to resolve conflicts involving various armed organisations internationally.

He specifically cited negotiations involving groups such as the Taliban and Hamas while arguing that Nigeria should consider approaches suited to its own security situation.

The cleric further called on the Federal Government to develop security policies based on Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances rather than allowing external expectations to dictate its response.

According to him, the government should take ownership of the security crisis and pursue solutions it considers suitable for the country.

Gumi also proposed a six-month amnesty period during which members of Boko Haram and other armed groups could surrender their weapons, urging the government to explore dialogue alongside other security measures.

“If I were to be president, I would just come around and give a six-month amnesty window for them to put down their weapons,” he said.