Northern Elders Issues Fresh Directive To Fulani Herdsmen

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has directed Fulani herdsmen to return to the northern region if their security can not be guaranteed.

Naija News reports that the directive was given on Wednesday by NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, while speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

He stated that the directive to herdsmen asking them to return was following alleged attacks on them, their families and communities in some states of the south.

Baba-Ahmed said: “Everyone in Nigeria knows that in the last few days, Fulani people are being harassed, threatened and attacked, initially in the western part of the country and now the eastern part.

“Some individuals and communities have taken law into their hand that they don’t want to see the Fulani in anywhere in Nigeria, Nigerians living lawfully, pursuing a living like every other Nigerians but sadly demonized and criminalized and everybody is saying we don’t want to see Fulani, Fulani must go.

“We confirmed that there are millions of Fulani living lawfully, legally, they are not bandits, they are not kidnappers, they are not breaking any law, so there is no reason why anybody should demonize them.

“We observed that innocent people are being attacked just for being Fulani, that’s unacceptable, we also established that a lot of them in Oyo, Ondo and in some part of the east in the last two days have been threatened and attacked, a lot of cattle have been killed, so we advised the Fulani to seek protection and leave.”