{
  "id": 5535546,
  "title": "Obasanjo met Boko Haram leaders, they agreed to lay down arms, govt reneged – Sheikh Gumi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/obasanjo-met-boko-haram-leaders-they-agreed-to-lay-down-arms-govt",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T10:42:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/04/obasanjo-met-boko-haram-leaders-they-agreed-to-lay-down-arms-govt-reneged-sheikh-gumi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a controversial Islamic scholar, has alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Boko Haram leaders in Maiduguri, Borno State, but the Nigerian government later reneged on its part of the negotiations. Gumi stated in a video that the terrorist group had promised to lay down their weapons during the meeting.\n\nThe Islamic scholar expressed concern over why the government negotiates with various groups such as the Taliban and Hamas, yet refuses to speak with Boko Haram. Gumi questioned why it has become a taboo to negotiate with Boko Haram, comparing Obasanjo's actions to those of other leaders.\n\nGumi recounted that Obasanjo had gone to Maiduguri at the early stage of Boko Haram and met with the leaders, who agreed to lay down their arms. However, upon returning, the government showed reluctance to take action, which left Gumi bitter. He urged the Nigerian government to address its security challenges without relying on international ethics and standards.\n\nGumi emphasized that Nigeria should not listen to the international community, as it is their problem to solve. He also criticized the government for succumbing to blackmail and misinformation, hindering its efforts to resolve the issue.\n\nThe scholar urged the government to provide a six-month amnesty window for Boko Haram members to lay down their weapons. According to Gumi, if he were to become president, he would offer such an amnesty period to encourage disarmament.",
  "summary": "Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Boko Haram leaders in Maiduguri, Borno State, but the government reneged on its part of the negotiations. Gumi claimed that the leaders of the terrorist group had promised to lay down their weapons during the meeting with the former president. […] Obasanjo met Boko Haram leaders, they…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Many terrorists dead as Boko Haram, ISWAP fighters clash in Sambisa Forest [VIDEO]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/many-terrorists-dead-as-boko-haram-iswap-fighters-clash-in-sambisa",
        "published": "2026-09-04T08:34:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}