Govenor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said he has no apology for kicking against the labelling of Fulanis as kidnapers and killers.
The governor, who stated this Wednesday, during the launch of the 2020/2021 Annual Livestock Vaccination Campaign, said there is no ethnic group that is free of criminals.
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He said it is unfair to label a particular ethnic group as criminals as such action can breed disunity.
Mohammed said over the years, Fulani herders have made sacrifices in their pastoral venture, providing the needed protein through supply of beef.
“We kicked against the profiling of the Fulanis as killers and kidnappers. We have no apology for what we have said because what we have done is to say the truth, that there is no tribe or ethnic group that is free from criminality.
“We are not saying that to spite anybody or spark unnecessary controversy. We have made our point and Nigerians across the board have discussed it and I am happy to say that from all indications, majority of sensible Nigerians have appreciated what we have said and that is the point.”
He also charged herdsmen to expose the “criminals among them” and to live within the law.
“I will therefore not mention anything on this matter again for fear that it could be escalated. I will listen to voices of reasoning and keep quiet. I am calling on our brothers, the Fulanis, to ensure that they make their communities free of criminality.”
“They must fish out the bad eggs from among themselves because criminality is criminality. In as much as we will protect them that they cannot be profiled badly, they should make efforts to show that majority of them are good citizens, contributing positively to the growth and development of Nigeria,” he said.
Mohammed and some of his southern counterparts had been involved in heated exchanges in recent weeks.
