Fulani Herdsmen have no option than to carry Arms to Protect themselves- Gov Bala

Northerners have overwhelmingly commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohemmed for unapologetically declaring that Fulani herdsmen have no option but to also carry up arms to defend themselves and their animals because of insecurity they face in forest across Nigeria and consistent attacks on them.

Governor Bala Mohammed made this while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bauchi State Council on Thursday.

The criticism that trail the statement is uncalled for and unnecessary. Crime is not unique to Fulani herdsmen. It is rampant in every region and no state is spared. While it is debated that herdsmen have been linked to most crimes committed, it is still unfair to paint a whole tribe as criminals.

Fulani herdsmen like the rest of Nigerians face daily threats in the course of herding their cattle from one forest to another especially from bandits who rustle their cattle and kill them in the process.

The situation is even more difficult for them as Nigeria Security agencies are constrained from helping them because some of the forests are inaccessible which leaves them to their fate and at the mercy of these bandits. Therefore, picking up arms only aids to protect themselves against these bandits and cattle rustlers.

It is same like Nigerians that employ security personnel to safeguard their businesses and homes against criminals. The difference is that while they (herdsmen) sit deep in the forests and bushes, we are in towns where police can respond faster.

This goes without saying that there are criminal elements among herdsmen. Focus should be directed at fishing out these vicious criminal elements amongst them and hand them over to the police. Secondly, security agencies must protect these herdsmen against cattle rustlers so they would lay down their arms.

They deserve to take up residence at anywhere in Nigeria. It is their constitutional fight and as such, Southern states must learn to separate bias and prejudices against Fulani and welcome the herdsmen. We must tone down our hostilities against them and show them hospitality. These way, the cases of farmers/herders clashes will be minimized.

Southeast, south south and southwest must all unite with the north to help Nigeria move forward. Antagonizing a whole tribe because of criminal activities of the few won’t help matters. All orders telling them to leave any region must be rescinded. They should be made to feel among, that way they too will help security agencies to fish out their members involved in crimes.