…We’re most profiled group in Nigeria – Isa Yuguda
… Says Fulanis may not survive if something is not done
About 17 Fulani groups leaders Monday, formed a coalition to end insecurity being perpetrated by some of their kingsmen, with immediate past Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje stating that killer herdsmen are not born again.
The Fulani leaders, including former Governor of Bauchi State, Is a Yuguda and Ganduje, acknowledged that just as it is with other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, there are bad eggs amongst the Fulanis that engaged in Kidnapping, armed robbery, militia and unknown gunmen that are now born again.
Speaking at the maiden meeting of 17 Fulani groups that formed a coalition to confront the security challenges in the country and change the attitude of the Fulanis to modern pastoralism, Ganduje said the Keller herdsmen are now born again.
“There must be a change in narrative.
Nomadic education failed because of misunderstanding. We must change our attitude to benefit from the present government’s renewed hope. We must change our attitude to modern rearing for more revenue,” Ganduje said, stating that the herders are now born again.
According to Ganduje, “The herdsmen are born again.” When asked which of the herdsmen are now born again, Ganduje said those who are engaged in activities that are causing insecurity in the country.
“The herdsmen are born again. Their lives are important. They are now working for peace and stability.
“We are requesting the government to provide an enabling environment for the herders to do their businesses. We are convincing ourselves for peace to reign so that we can benefit from what the government is planning for us.
“We want settlement, housemanship, livestock laboratories, market and security should be provided. We want education for the children of the herders,” Ganduje said, adding that they are embarking on citizen engagement to discourage the Fulanis from banditry and other vices.
“The security agencies are working very hard to ensure that it keeps the country safe,” Ganduje added.
“We want to convince ourselves that we are committed to peace and stability in Nigeria so that we can also benefit from the enabling environment provided by the federal government.
“We are requesting the government to provide an enabling environment that is sustainable for livestock production reform.
“If herdsmen can agree for a modern system of livestock production, there is a need for settlement and settlement requires land and after being resettled, there are other services provided to the communities of herdsmen.
“Livestock laboratories to be built, markets to be provided, sales of milk to be enhanced and also security to be provided, education for the children of the Fulanis, this is a complete way of life and by doing so, we are improving the livestock production in Nigeria.
“But this cannot happen until the livestock production is reformed and this cannot happen until the Herdsmen themselves are convinced that they can adapt to the new system of production and this will eventually bring peace and stability,” Ganduje said the last administration tried it best to solve the problem but their best was not enough.
“That is why when I was the Governor of Kano State, we organized a national conference involving many critical stakeholders, and we came up with a blueprint which will soon be presented to Mr president.
“In order for that document to be implemented, herdsmanship must change in narratives and settle because if you are settled, there would be an opportunity for you to educate your children.
“If all our children are educated we couldn’t see all these problems but for them to be educated, we need to be settled because education is much more than we think,” he said.
Also speaking, former Governor of Bauchi State, Is a Yuguda said the Fulani people with about 60 million people are the most profiled groups in Nigeria.
According to Yuguda, the Fulani people may not survive in Nigeria if something is not done urgently because of hatred.
“We have various groups in the bush. Some are Fulanis, some are not. But I can say that the majority of them are Fulanis.
“I interacted with the Fulani militia. Most of them are people whose parents were killed,” Yuguda said, adding that herdsmen in their 20s are now holding AK-47 rifles to defend themselves.
“But some have also deviated into using such weapons for criminal activities.
Yuguda also alluded to how cattle routes and grazing areas had been taken over as a result of growing population and blamed the government for inaction.
“My personal interaction with some of the groups in the bush, those that I interacted with are not robbers, bandits, Boko Haram, Shiites but they’re Fulani ethnic militias, those are the ones I went to see inside the bush of Zamfara State.
“Why I called them ethnic militias is because their parents, wives and children were killed in conflicts between Hausa extraction and Fulanis.
“Most of them are innocent and their houses are raided, cattles are rustle. They don’t have anything at hand but to pick up guns, go to the bush and start fighting themselves. If they get to know that a Fulani has been kidnapped, they also go out and kidnap others,” Yuguda said.
On his part, the National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) Baba Ngelzarma, on his part, said they are working hard to ensure that they unite the Fulani leaders adding that they lost over 3 million cows during the crisis.
“Over 3 million cows have been lost in the crisis. That is why the leadership of the 17 Fulani associations are here to ensure that we end this insecurity,” Ngelzarma said.
Also, speaking, one of the victims of kidnapping who is also Funali, Dr Ramatu Abarshi, said no one can solve the problem of the Fulanis.
Ramatu, who said she has forgiven those who kidnapped her, said all Fulanis must support the renewed hope of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“What do we do to change the narratives? We are blessed because we have people that have helped Nigeria to be what it is today,” Ramatu said, adding that it was not funny seeing 20-year-olds holding Fulanis holding guns, telling her they feel happy when they kill people. I’ve forgotten all of them,” she said.
