Fulani youth back El-Rufai, decries ”illegal” roadblocks

A Youth Leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (MACBAN), Yusuf Usman Garba has while backing peace moves initiated by Governor Nasir El-Rufai decried the ‘illegal’ road blocks which he said are being used to maim Fulani in southern Kaduna.

Speaking with our correspondent after a meeting organised by a cluster of Fulani organisation including MACBAN Pastoral Resolve (PARE) and Mobgal Fulbe Development Association amongst others in Kaduna, Yusuf called on the state government to suspend any traditional ruler where a road block is mounted in his chiefdom.

He noted that many roads in the area are not accessible to Fulani and other people only locals in the area who mount different road blocks at different locations adding that, "If the government can suspend a traditional ruler over the removal of streets light in a particular area, then why can’t the same government suspend a traditional ruler when illegal road blocks are mounted in his chiefdom?"

He added, "We want the government to take disciplinary action against the district and village heads where illegal road blocks are mounted, because even though we are in full support of the peace initiative by the government, we want action to be taken to end the killings in southern Kaduna

"We are really worried about the happenings in the area because Fulani are really facing challenges. A Fulani man is not free to go about his normal business in the area for fear of being attacked and this is telling on the socio-economic well being of the Fulani man.

"Another issue is the fact Fulani are not given admission into government institutions in southern Kaduna including College of Education, College of Nursing, the Kaduna state University (KASU) and the Kaduna Polytechnic, Agricultural Department. So I want to call on the government to as a matter of urgency reverse the trend as it is one of the solutions to finding last peace in the area."

"The only functional grazing reserve Fulani have is the Ladugga grazing reserve, thank God another has been created in Kagarko and Fulani have started moving there, but I want to call on the government on build infrastructure in the Kagarko grazing reserve because most of the affected Fulani from southern Kaduna are moving into Kagarko grazing reserve for safety," he said.

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