The Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association has said there is a conspiracy to tag all Fulani herdsmen across the country as criminals, warning that such a move will affect the unity of the nation.

The National President of the group, Saidu Maikano who spoke to journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said though there were some criminal elements among the herdsmen, it was unacceptable to tag all herdsmen criminals, especially in the South-South and South Western parts of the country.

Maikano said, “Criminality is not peculiar to one ethnic group. Criminality has no ethnic or religious attachment and, therefore, should not be used as a Fulani identity.”

The group said there is a grand conspiracy to evict Fulani herdsmen from other parts of the country but insisted that such a move would be resisted.

It said, “This country belongs to all of us; there is no part of the country that has accommodated other ethnic groups like the North and when some of these people commit offences in the North, we don’t brand an entire ethnic group as criminals because as civilized people we should only ensure that the criminals are prosecuted and justice is done.”

On the issue of cattle rustling, Maikano said, “Cattle rustling has become a booming business headed by a cartel. Security agents must connect the dots so as to get to the real sponsors.”

Credit: Punch