The South West Fulani Chiefs have expressed their deep concern over the tragic killings of Ekiti traditional leaders, calling on the federal government to address acts of violence and criminalities in the region.
Chairman of the South West Council of Fulani Chiefs and Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado II, spoke in Lagos Thursday, saying, “It is worrisome to see criminal acts escalate to the point of causing ethnic tensions,” he said.
Daily Trust reports that kidnapping has been on the increase in the South-West even as traditional rulers are being targeted. Two Ekiti monarchs were murdered in cold blood even as kidnapping cases have been on the increase along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The Fulani chiefs added their voice to the insecurity in the region yesterday, “calling on the government, security, and intelligence agencies to proactively address crime, to prevent it from leading to ethnic and religious conflicts. It’s crucial to act decisively against criminality to foster a sense of unity among our people.”
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In the statement, Bambado II warned against giving ethnic colouration to the insecurity.
He said, “We also want to address the quick judgment some may have towards other ethnic groups based on media reports of criminal activities. It is important to remember that crime does not belong to any particular group.
“Just as there have been criminals identified as members from other tribes, it is unfair to single out the Fulani community in cases of crimes in a way that suggests profiling them as if they are good for nothing other than criminality. Ethnic profiling is not the solution to our security challenges; it’s the responsibility of the authorities to enforce the law impartially.