A prominent Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi says herdsmen learnt kidnapping from Niger Delta militants.

He said if the government hold talks with herdsmen, they will assist in flushing out the criminals among them.

Gumi has been advocating amnesty for bandits.

He said the bandits are themselves victims of cattle rustling who took to crime to defend themselves.

Speaking when he featured on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, Gumi said just about 10 percent of Fulani herdsmen are criminals.

The cleric said the bandits learnt kidnapping from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), saying if militants could be granted amnesty, then the same should be applicable to the bandits.

He said if the federal government grants them amnesty, the other 90 percent of the herdsmen will reveal the identity of the criminals among them.