Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Attahiru Abubakar (Tukuran Bargu), the local branch chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MCBAN, has warned against ethnic profiling and the murder of Fulani pastoralist in various Southern and middle belt states.
In Kebbi State’s Birnin Kebbi, he issued the warning.
He claims that the Fulani tribe is conscious of their status as terrorists and bandits, despite the fact that many other tribes participated in banditry and that, in certain instances, natives pretended to be Fulani in order to terrorize their own population, murder Fulani, and take their cows.
He mentioned the states of Benue and the South-East, where he claimed that the real bandits are their own people, who slaughter and steal Fulani cows under the guise of “unknown gunmen.” Unfortunately, the Federal Government always turns a blind eye to these crimes.
“Let me clarify here that the actual Fulanis are the worst hit in the wake of unprovoked killings by armed bandits. In Kebbi State alone Fulani families lost almost 3,000 cows to armed bandits disguised as Fulanis.”
Abubakar Bandam, who also spoke, urged Southern states that had banned open grazing to reconsider their decision because it would harm the nation’s economy. He noted that the nation’s supply of meat is derived from the rearing of cattle, which is also a business for the fulani, who are referred to as migrants.
He asserted that labeling them as non-indigenous is incorrect and cannot be used as justification for killing them and taking their cows in order to enforce a prohibition on open grazing.
He said that because they were from Nigeria, they had the right to live together in any country as long as their businesses were legal.
“We oppose the ban because the states that outlawed open grazing have not offered a substitute, unless they are advocating anarchy. For many years, people have thought of Fulanis as peaceful people who carry sticks and water bottles rather than guns. We request that the appropriate authorities immediately stop profiling and labeling Fulani people as armed bandits and kidnappers.
