Renown Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said he no longer had anything to do with bandits, following their declaration as terrorists by the court.

Recall that on November 25, a Federal High Court in Abuja had declared the activities of all bandit groups in the country as acts of terrorism.

Gumi is known for demanding amnesty for bandits who are said to have killed thousands and abducted many, including schoolchildren.

Speaking in an interview with online newspaper, Premium Times, on Wednesday, the cleric said he would no longer mediate for bandits.

He said: “Since the federal government has declared them terrorists, I don’t have anything to do with them anymore.

“I will not like to expose myself to danger again and to put a spotlight on myself unnecessarily. I have tried all I could do to admonish the nation on the best way to do it, but it seems my advice has fallen on deaf ears.

“I have endangered my life for peace by going to the forest and engaging the bandits. Among them are rock bandits, dangerous, armed, ready to fire.

“It is dangerous, still we risked our lives to see that we bring peace to this nation. Because somebody has to take that risk and we took it and thanked God we came out safely and knowledgeable, knowing how to come about this issue.

“Maybe in the future when the political situation changes for the better, we can do it again so that there will be peace, harmony and tranquility in the country.”

Less than 24 hours after state High Court sitting in Ukwa, Aba Abia State ordered him to stop parading himself as

The factional chairman-elect of All Progressives Congress, APC in Abia state, Hon. Enyinnaya Harbour is reportedly dead.

He was said to have passed on in the early hours of Thursday at University of Nigerian Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

His death is coming than 24 hours after state High Court sitting in Ukwa, Aba Abia State ordered him to stop parading himself as chairman-elect of the party.

A family source who pleaded anonymity confirmed his death to ABN TV on Thursday.

He however did not disclose the cause of his death to our correspondent.

Recall that there has been controversies on who the authentic chairman-elect of the party in Abia is after a disputed congress.

Nnamdi Kanu’s foreign counsel, Bindmans LLP said it has been instructed by the family of the IPOB leader to raise urgent concerns with UK ministers about the separatist’s detention “in conditions which amount to torture”, ABN TV reports.

The London law firm on Thursday said it has also outlined a series of options for diplomatic and international legal action against Nigeria and key officials in the West African country, requesting assurances that they will be considered urgently and the resulting action plan is then fully explained.

Kanu is a Nigerian-British national and leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). IPOB is agitating for the breakup of Nigeria and sovereign nation of Biafra. Kanu was brought to Nigeria from Kenya in controversial circumstances. Since 27 June 2021, he has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS). His lawyers have also alleged that he is being denied medical assistance “for ongoing health conditions”.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised by Bindmans with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and by Kanu’s lawyers in Nigeria with the authorities and courts there.

According to Bindmans, to date, the UK’s diplomatic efforts have had very little effect as “UK officials have only been able to visit Kanu once whilst in detention; his conditions of detention have not changed since that visit and no other progress has been made in assisting him”.

Shirin Marker, Solicitor at Bindmans LLP who is representing Kanu’s family said:
“The British government has a firm and explicit policy on condemning and seeking to end torture and mistreatment. That policy sets out a range of actions open to the UK authorities when an individual with British nationality is subject to torture abroad. There is no dispute that Mr Kanu is being tortured.

“To do otherwise would be inconsistent with the UK’s obligations under international law and the principles of its policy.

“We have made detailed representations to the FCDO on its legal obligations through its lawyers, and expect a prompt response on what action will now be taken.”