Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has advised the Federal Government to use the ‘good bandits to fight against the bad bandits’.

Gumi gave this advise while speaking to  PUNCH on Wednesday, June 2 on the abduction of 200 Islamiyya schoolchildren in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The cleric maintained that the government needs to dialogue with bandits to resolve crisis.

According to Gumi, there are many good bandits ready to fight the bad bandits. He said all they need is the government’s empowerment to carry out the job.

“We are always trying to do our best, but you see, you need two hands to shake. You know these people (bandits) need engagements from the government itself. If you dialogue with them without the involvement of the government, it is a problem.

“Government needs to be proactive with them. We have a lot of them that are ready to fight the bad ones. Use the bad to fight the ugly, and use the good to fight the bad ones when you’re done with the ugly. Look at Boko Haram, who finished Shekau? Was it not the splinter group? So, it is easy.

“All these agitations you see, if the government can do a splinter group and the splinter group is empowered, every man wants power and money, they will do your job. There are many ready to submit themselves. All the ones you see me meeting in the bush, they are all telling us, ‘we are ready’ Gumi  said.