THE Coalition of Northern Groups on Monday supported a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, who last week advised the Federal Government to use security budget in addressing the demands of bandits and herdsmen.

The Spokesman for the coalition, Abdul-azeez Suleiman, who stated this in an interview, made other suggestions which strengthened the position of the Islamic cleric.

Recall that Gumi, during his visit to Tubali and Makkai forests in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, appealed to bandits to embrace peace.

Advising government on the use of security budget to meet bandits’ demands, the cleric said, “Such billions (of naira) would be more than enough if judiciously used to address all the demands of the armed Fulani, including providing them with basic amenities, training them and providing them with the needed capital.”

However, Suleiman said, “Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with Sheikh Gumi’s suggestions if we have a listening government and objective analysts. On our part, we will go beyond Sheikh Gumi’s suggestions to demand government to identify suitable lands across the country and create grazing reserves and cattle routes.

“We also advise the proclamation of a National Policy on Grazing and Livestock Development to cater to the needs of all the pastoral communities everywhere in the country.”