Sheik Ahmad Gumi, a renowned northern Islamic scholar, has claimed that the military is benefiting from the insecurity ravaging Nigeria.

He said this after touring bandits’ hideouts in Zamfara where about 500 of them repented and signed peace deal with the state government.

While telling Arise TV about his recent trips to the Northwest forests to meet with bandits, he alleged that the military does not want an end to terrorism.

“The military is not encouraging matters at all because they are the beneficiaries of this insecurity,” he said.

“The bandits are ready to drop their arms and return back to the fold if the federal government will accede to their simple demands, such as building schools, hospitals and providing water.

“They (the bandits) are complaining mostly against the military killing innocent people. They resorted to buying arms. How did they get the arms? They resorted to kidnapping people, which is an end result of these military actions.

“Look, they are ready to drop these arms and return to the fold of Nigerians just for simple things: schools, hospitals, water.

“And there is an allegation: the military don’t want this conflict to end because of the billions of naira they claim for fighting insurgency. So the military is not cooperating.”

According to Daily Trust, Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima, spokesman of the Nigerian Army, refuted claims made by Gumi about the military.

“If a learned man, a respected Islamic scholar, can say that, then it’s unfortunate. He is entitled to his opinion but all I can say is that we are sacrificing our lives to protect this nation. We are giving our best to the country,” Yerima said.

“Does the Sheik have evidence to back up his claim? Can he prove it? This is unfortunate but that is his opinion and he is entitled to it.”