Treat fulani herders like Niger Delta militants, Gumi tells FG
An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has told the federal government to treat the Fulani herders the same manner other aggrieved groups such as Niger Delta militants, are treated.
He made this opinion on Wednesday at a security conference, which took place in Abuja.
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) have organized the event, themed ‘Exploring the contemporary security challenges facing pastoralists and Fulbe in Nigeria.
According to Gumi: “Government should focus more attention on these people because they always say that they are aggrieved.
“What I expect from the government is nothing less than what it did when the Niger Delta youths were vandalising the economy.
“These people are also disturbing the Nigerian agriculture which is the backbone of national economy.
“I think the government needs to be more proactive. They need attention. The least they need is the ministry of nomadic affairs that will look into their affairs.”
The National President of MACBAN, Husseini Bosso, said: “What is baffling is that crimes perpetuated against pastoralists have no traction in the media. Our members have been the highest victims of criminality,” he said.
“MACBAN chairmen in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa states and five other local government chairmen, including Gwagwalada area council, were all recently abducted and killed.
“This buttresses the fact that we are not spared from the atrocities of the kidnappings and banditry in our communities.”
