Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi says he is willing to lead negotiations for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, but only if Kanu publicly expresses remorse for his actions.

Gumi stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he also reiterated his advocacy for a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity, especially terrorism and banditry in northern Nigeria.

Kanu was last week convicted on seven counts of terrorism and handed a life sentence—alongside a concurrent 20-year term—by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Following the judgment, he was transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services to the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Sokoto State.

Reacting to the verdict, Gumi accused Kanu of inciting violence against security personnel, but said a genuine demonstration of remorse could pave the way for possible amnesty.

“This Kanu that was imprisoned for terrorism for agitating that our soldiers should be killed—if this same Kanu will show remorse and call for peace, honestly, I will be at the forefront of calling for his pardon and amnesty,” he said.

Citing precedents, Gumi referenced former President Shehu Shagari’s pardon of Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s amnesty programme for Niger Delta militants.

“We have people who are ready to put down their arms; why must the solution always be kinetic?” he asked, arguing that conventional military strategies alone cannot defeat insurgents.

Gumi also defended his outreach to Fulani herders, insisting they have shown willingness to embrace dialogue when engaged.

“The Fulani herdsmen have been calling for peace. When you call them, they come—with their guns for many reasons. Can you call IPOB for peace? Can you call Boko Haram?” he said, adding that any group demonstrating readiness for peace would have his support.