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Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has criticised calls for the killing of repentant insurgents and secessionists, describing such actions as contrary to religious teachings and international law.
Gumi made the remarks in a Facebook post on Friday, days after the Senate urged the Federal Government to stop rehabilitating repentant terrorists and instead prosecute individuals found guilty of terrorism and other organised criminal offences.
According to the cleric, killing repentant insurgents, secessionists or prisoners of war is morally wrong and violates both religious and international legal principles. He warned that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is monitoring such actions and urged those involved to consider the legal and religious implications.
He argued that adopting the same approach as terrorist groups by killing perceived enemies undermines morality and does not help in winning the fight against insecurity.
“Killing repentant insurgents and secessionists is against religious and international law. So also prisoners of war. ICC is listening if you don’t fear Allah. Where is morality? It’s the same logic terrorists employ to kill all others besides them. Emotions don’t win a war,” Gumi wrote.
The Senate had, during Tuesday’s plenary, resolved that individuals found guilty of terrorism and other organised criminal offences should face immediate prosecution rather than rehabilitation, insisting that justice must be served to restore public confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
The resolution formed part of measures adopted by lawmakers to address Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
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