Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has warned Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi and others, urging them to refrain from portraying or accommodating bandits under any guise of a so-called “Northern brotherhood.”
Musa also warned Nigerians against providing any form of support, direct or indirect, to terrorists and bandits, stressing that such actions amount to complicity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Musa said the warning was neither accidental nor symbolic, but a deliberate response to narratives previously advanced by Gumi, who had referred to bandits hiding in the forests as “our brothers” and argued that society could not function without them.
The Defence Minister stressed that such characterisations are dangerous, noting that labeling bandits as “brothers” does not reduce violence but rather legitimises criminality and undermines national security efforts.
According to him, rhetoric that seeks to humanise or normalise terrorism weakens the resolve of the state and emboldens criminal networks.
Musa drew a clear distinction between compassion and complicity, explaining that while empathy has a place in society, justifying or excusing acts of terror only strengthens groups that have devastated communities, displaced families, and claimed countless innocent lives across the country.
“Terrorism thrives not only on weapons, but also on moral and social cover. Anyone who excuses, defends, shields, or remains silent in the face of criminality whether through words, influence, or inaction shares responsibility for the consequences. In matters of national security, neutrality is not an option,” he said.
He added that Nigeria cannot defeat banditry and terrorism while dangerous rhetoric continues to blur the line between victims and perpetrators.
The choice, Musa said, is clear: Nigerians must stand firmly with the law and the nation, or risk being counted among those who enable crime.
