Dr ahmad gumi biography of mahatma gandhi

A prominent Muslim cleric acting as a self-appointed middleman has emerged as a divisive figure in the kidnap-for-ransom crisis plaguing northern Nigeria, which has seen more than 800 students seized in recent months.

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a former army captain, was involved in Wednesday's release of 27 students abducted in March from a forestry college in Nigeria's Kaduna state.

Such is his influence that the parents of the freed students paid him a "thank you" visit where he assured that 16 other students abducted from Greenfield University in Kaduna state in April, would not be killed.

Their abductors, who had previously killed five of them and released one after a ransom was paid, had threatened to kill the remaining hostages if no ransom was paid at the expiration of a Wednesday deadline but the sheikh said he had talked them out of it.