The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, not to compare their members with bandits.

IPOB, in a statement made available to The Star on Sunday, stated that there is no basis for comparing “agents of deaths and mass murderers like bandits with peaceful IPOB members.”

Gumi had on Thursday while reacting to the court’s declaration of bandits as terrorists compared the criminals with IPOB.

Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, stated that bandits are known kidnappers who collect ransom unlike IPOB that doesn’t engage in abduction.

He said unlike bandits IPOB has not carried out any terrorist attack against the Nigerian state.

He said: “The attention of the global family of the IPOB ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been drawn to the ranting by Fulani bandits advocate and supposed Iman called sheikh Gumi, where he mischievously placed agents of death and mass murderers like Fulani bandits at par with peaceful IPOB members. This is not only sacrilegious but insanity taken too far.

“In case Gumi has forgotten, Fulani bandits and herdsmen are already designated the fourth deadliest terror organisation in the world. But IPOB as a peaceful Movement maintains its presence in over 100 countries of the world without any molestations. It’s only in Nigeria that Gumi and his likes will liken IPOB to a terror group that it is not. What a blackmail!

“Gumi should hide his face in shame for his open support for mass murderers while on the order hand claiming to be an Islamic cleric. It’s  because of hypocrites like him that bandits and terrorists keep spilling blood across the country as they know he will always make a case for them.

“Were Nigeria to be a sane society, Gumi and his types should have been serving their jail terms for their unhidden sympathy for terrotists. But we assure him that definitely one day he and his likes will have to tell the world all they know about bandits and terrorists and how much that passed through them to the mass murderers as ransom.

“Can the mischievous Gumi be honest to tell the world if IPOB has kidnapped anybody at any time and demanded ransom for him to liken us with bandits? Can he swear by Allah that IPOB has carried out any terror attack against anybody at any time?

“IPOB remains a peaceful movement with the mandate of restoring the Sovereign State of Biafra. We believe in peaceful restoration of Biafra and our philosophy has not changed.

“Sheikh Gumi should tread with caution. The world is watching him for hobnobbing with bandits and terrorists. He should stop deceiving himself, the world already knows who he is working for, and whose interest he defends. Sheikh Gumi, tell us your friend, and we will tell you who you are! An advocate of bandits can’t claim to be a true Islamic cleric.”