Investigate criminals masquerading as Fulani herders, says Baraje

Former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has called on government and security agencies to investigate infiltration by foreign criminal elements who “masquerade as Fulani herders”.

He insisted the Fulani herdsmen causing havoc in Nigeria were foreigners.

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“I know some mischievous elements who probably have political points to score have been spreading false versions of my statements to the journalists during the chat I had on my 70th birthday,” he said.

“All these false claims would not change my original position that the government and our security agencies must investigate the infiltration of our country by foreign criminal elements who masquerade as Fulani herders.”

His comments came in a statement by his media aide Abdullahi Kabiru against the backdrop of recent media chat in Ilorin.

“The Fulanis involved in criminal activities are not Nigerians. The Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria do not carry guns. They only have matchete used to clear the bush as they progress with their cows and a stick to direct the animals.

“Those who carry arms are mere criminals who exploited the porosity of our borders and came in without cattle.”

Baraje explained that those foreign herders initially started their crimes by engaging in cattle rustling to pretend that they are Nigerian herders.

“To disguise their intention, they first began with cattle rustling in the North-West to acquire cows and assume the status of herdsmen. This went on for some time in the North. It is now that they spread their nefarious activities to the South that the awareness and condemnation became very prominent and loud.

“This is all I told the journalists and this remains my analysis of the situation. I believe it is my contribution to the conversation on how we can solve this security crisis. We must interrogate all the points I and many others have raised because security matter concerns all of us. We must not play politics with it.

“I have decided to reinstate this position so as not to leave anybody in doubt as to what I said during the chat with the media. Just as I cautioned that we should not play politics with security, the mischief-makers, using a section of the media to spread falsehood about my position should stop,” Baraje said.