Arrest, Prosecute Criminals As Individuals, Not Ethnic Group, Fulani Organisation Tells, Security, Others

The Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, the organisation of Fulani ethnic community in Nigeria, has called on security agencies and the media to stop ethnic profiling but arrest and prosecute criminals as individuals not as an ethnic group.

The President of Kautal Fulaku Fulbe, Dr Huseini Buzaye who made the call at a press conference on behalf of Coalition of Pastoralist NGOs, said an entire community cannot be punished for the sins of a few.

Speaking through the National Secretary of the Association, Abdullahi Ardo, the President condemned in totality all forms of banditry and criminality.

“We, the leaders of over 30 pastoralist associations united under the Confederation of Pastoralist NGOs (CONPA), representing millions of Nigerian pastoralists from all 36 states and FCT, have called this International Press Conference today to draw the attention of the federal government, the international community, human rights organisations, and all well-meaning Nigerians to the grave and continuing plight of pastoralists in Nigeria.

“For too long, the word “Fulani Pastoralist” has been profiled and criminalised as synonymous with banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. This dangerous stereotyping has given impetus to jungle justice, extrajudicial killings, and hate speech against innocent pastoralists, including women and children who have no connection to crime,” Buzaye said.

He stated that in the last few months, hundreds of innocent pastoralists had been allegedly killed in coordinated attacks in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and other parts of the country.

While calling for an independent investigation into those alleged killings, Buzaye urged the federal government to direct its relevant agencies to provide relief materials to displaced pastoralist victims as it does for other communities.

He asked security agencies to provide protection to pastoralists as Nigerian citizens under Section 14 and Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Kautal Fulaku Fulbe President commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development — a historic decision that gave the association hope after 60 years of agitation.

He however noted that the ministry remains largely underfunded and without a clear operational framework and asked Tinubu and the National Assembly to allocate at least 30% of agricultural budget to the ministry.

Buzaye asked the federal government to immediately gazette and protect the 417 grazing reserves and start pilot ranches in the six geo-political zones.

He noted that the farmer-herder conflict has killed more than 20,000 people in 10 years and called on Tinubu to make a presidential declaration of National Dialogue and Reconciliation on Farmer-Herder and Pastoralist Conflicts.

“This Dialogue should include: Miyetti Allah groups, Traditional Rulers, CAN, JNI, Security Agencies, State Governments, and indeed all Nigerians.
Its mandate should be Truth, Justice, Forgiveness, Compensation, and a Roadmap for Peaceful Co-existence.

“While government has major responsibility to provide security, justice, infrastructure, and public services, pastoralist communities also have an important role to play. Pastoralist leaders, household, and young people should:

“Respect the rights and lawful property of farmers and other citizens, Take reasonable measures to prevent livestock from entering cultivated farmland Cooperate with lawful security investigations. Report cattle rustling, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.

“Reject violence, banditry, kidnapping, and all forms of criminality. Encourage children to attend school. Promote peaceful dialogue with neighboring communities. Support responsible livestock management and environmental protection.

“Encourage young people to acquire education, vocational skills, and productive employment Reject misinformation, ethnic hostility, and retaliatory violence. Reject informants among your subjects.

“We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country.
Our cattle feed this nation. Our children want to go to school, as shown by our 800 children education project. We are calling on Federal Government, State Government, Traditional
Institution, Farmers’ Associations, Security Agencies and development partner to work together towards practical and lasting solutions.

“We advocate justice without discrimination, security without exclusion, development without marginalization, and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and the rule of law. Let us replace suspicion with dialogue, conflict with cooperation, poverty with opportunity, and exclusion with inclusive national development,” Buzaye added.