Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has intensified his commentary on Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, posting a fiery prayer on social media on Thursday that calls for divine wrath upon those who profit from the nation’s bloodshed.

In a Facebook post on Thursday titled “My prayer today,” Sheikh Gumi asked God to expose and punish all individuals and entities, foreign or citizen, who initiated, sponsor, or benefit from the “insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria.”

He wrote, “Ya Allah! Whoever initiated or is behind this insecurity and bloodbath in Nigeria, whether foreign or citizen, or has any benefit, material or otherwise, or is even happy that people are being killed, or willingly did nothing to stop it, may by Your divine power be exposed and Your anger poured upon them and punished immediately without harm to the innocent. Amin. Say Amin!”

Responding to Gumi’s post, Sani Badamasi wrote, “Let me tell you something, you may not know with all due respect, sir, telling the bandits that they were cheated is part of encouragement, sympathising with them is also part of it, not only giving them weapons or money. There are some words that are more dangerous than weapons.”

Gumi responded, “Just say Amin.”

Another user, Endless Joe, wrote, “Yes, I agree with this your prayers, anyone who in one way or the other is trying to speak or has spoken in favour of the enemies of Nigeria AKA ‘Bandits’ will not see the end of this year.”

Gumi replied, “Amin to all the enemies of Nigeria, bandits included. Ok. Say Ameen to my prayer too!”

PUNCH reported in November that Gumi, who has for years positioned himself as an intermediary between the government and bandit groups, lashed out at those calling for his arrest over his continued commentary on banditry and national security.

Some of his critics reportedly accused him of shielding bandits and terrorists by asking the government to negotiate with them instead of resorting to full force.

In a later interview on Channels Television, Gumi argued that some armed groups are ready to lay down their weapons, noting that the government should consider a non-kinetic approach instead of solely relying on military action. (The PUNCH)