Members of the Miyetti Allah Fulani Cattle Breeders Association have denied accusation of perpetrators for heinous crimes often levelled against them in different parts of the country.
Mr Bayero Ibrahim, Secretary of Fulani youths nationwide, who spoke on their behalf, made the denial in an interview with newsmen in Wassa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Ibrahim argued that Fulanis were mostly victims of communities where they settled rather than perpetrators of hideous crimes often ascribed to them.
He urged the government and Nigerians in general, to disregard the perception of Fulanis as “bush people, violent people’’ and see them as “decent citizens’’. The secretary urged the government to include Fulani youths in skills acquisition programmes that would give them the necessary capacity for work.
According to Ibrahim, many Fulani elites within and outside the country are professionals in different fields while some hold political offices and others work with international organisations.
“I will not dispute the fact that our major occupation and what the Fulanis are known for is cattle-breeding, but aside that, we are not different from any other tribe that is regarded highly.
“I am a graduate of Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and we have other educated Fulanis like myself. For those that are less educated, if they are given the opportunity to acquire skills as carpenters, mechanics and tailors, among other skills, I am sure they will do well.
“We, the youths, have come together from different parts of the FCT to meet, discuss our plight, and make it known to the government and our elites, so that it could be addressed.’’ On the issue of security, the scribe said that most times, they were the victims and not perpetrators of the crime. According to him, most times, people infiltrate their ranks in communities where they settle to graze, disguise themselves with their outfits and commit crimes, including killings.
Ibrahim added that when members of such communities react, they ended up killing innocent Fulanis.
In a separate interview, Mr Ahmed Abdullahi, the Chairman of the Vigilante Group in Wassa Community, said that the group’s task included watching out for infiltrators, with a view to protecting the community. He urged the government to complement the group’s efforts by deploying troops to their settlements and also pay a little stipend to members of the group.
Meanwhile, Ardo Halilu Umar, the Chief of Fulanis in Karshi, urged the government to allocate grazing areas to pastoralists in communities where they settle.
According to him, this will foster peace among them and members of the community where they settle, noting that they are most times accused of encroaching into farmlands. The FCT administration has allocated grazing areas at Paiko, Gwagwalada, Ruboushi, Pyakasa, Kuje, and Wassa.
-Vanguard
