Sheikh Gumi Reacts To Claims Of N800K Paid During Negotiation For Afaka Students’ Release

 

Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi has distanced himself from anything that has to do with N800,000 purportedly paid to secure the release of some abducted students in Kaduna state.

Recall that the bandits in March attacked the College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi LGA and abducted 39 students.

Meanwhile, 10 out of the abducted students have regained their freedom while 29 others are still in captivity.

On Wednesday, after their parents staged a protest at the National Assembly complex to demand their release, reports emerged of a cash transaction made to secure their freedom.

One of the parents while speaking with Roots TV alleged that Gumi directed them to a Fulani man named Ahmed, who collected N800,000 from them.

“We kept going for meetings. They took us to Gumi’s house who said we should meet one Ahmed. I’ve forgotten the name,” she had said.

“A Fulani man was invited, we contributed almost N800,000 to him but he said the money was just for transportation. Then I started crying and pleaded with him that I am a widow, training my boy to become my helper in the future but he said that was not his concern.”

When contacted on Wednesday, Gumi told newsmen that the allegation is “nonsense”.

The cleric, who is known to have access to some of the bandits, said he is not aware of such transaction.

“Absolute nonsense. I don’t know anything about any money transaction,” he responded via a text message.

Recall that Sheikh Gumi im February called on the federal government to grant blanket amnesty to the bandits.

Gumi on Tuesday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay the N100 million demanded by the abductors of Greenfield University students, Kaduna state.