Jigawa district head bans night parties in Fulani settlements

The District Head of Jeke in Suletankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa, Alhaji Alassan, has banned Fulani local traditional wedding ceremonies and other festivities in the night in his domain.

The Information Officer of the local government, Daudu Sulaiman, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.

Mr. Sulaiman said that Mr. Alassan, who is also the Dan Isan Gumel, gave the directive during a meeting with village and ward heads in his domain.

According to Mr. Sulaiman, the district head explained that the ban was to check unnecessary fighting during such ceremonies.

He said the traditional ruler said such quarrels among Fulani men usually led to lost of lives and property.

The information officer said the district head had also warned residents of the area to desist from attending ceremonies and other social gatherings as well as going to markets with weapons.

 

Source: NAN

Killer Herdsmen are Not Nigerians – Northern Governors Conclude

The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said that the Fulani herdsmen who are killing Nigerians across the country are from Senegal and Mali.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima made the comments on Tuesday, January 24, while speaking to journalists in Kaduna.

Shettima also said that efforts would be made to secure Nigeria’s borders and register Fulani immigrants entering into the country to rear cattle.

“We also mapped out new strategies that would be used by the local Fulani herdsmen to rear their cattle without having to move across the country,” the governor said.

Shettima also urged Nigerians to see security as a personal business, pointing out that the nation would remain backward if there was no peace.

“I said kill any herdsmen seen around me or my church. Not all herdsmen” – Apostle Suleman

Following the foiled attempt to arrest the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnso Suleman in Ekiti on Wednesday, the clergyman has attempted to clarify his commandment to followers to kill herdsmen.

 

The clergyman took to twitters a few hours after the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, saved him from being bundled away by the Department of State Services (DSS). There are speculations that the DSS was on his trail because of the statement he made in one of his sermons at a Auchi, Edo State, urging his followers to “kill herdsmen”.

 

Suleman said he was not inciting his congregation to attack all Fulani herdsmen, rather, he was referring to herdsmen who come close to him of his church premises.

 

“Go back to the tape. I said any herdsman seen around me or the church. Not herdsmen walking on there own. Thanks for the love and messages all over. am fine,” he tweeted.

 

See the tweets below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor sues for peace as 4 die in Gbagyi, Fulani clash

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger has warned that the state government will no longer condone any act of lawlessness exhibited by individuals or group of persons to cause disunity in the state.

He gave the warning when he condoled with victims of Gbagyi/Fulani clash on Thursday in Yadna village of Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

No fewer than four people lost their lives on January 12, in a clash between farmers and herdsmen in Sabon Daga community.

Mr. Bello described the incident as unfortunate, and warned that investigation would be carried out to determine the cause of the clash.

He urged the people of the area to shun violence and report every incident to the appropriate authority.

“It is unfortunate that people take laws into their hands without involving the appropriate authority. This community in the last two days has been misled by rumour and speculations.

“I came here personally to see the true situations of things. We are on top of the situation and we are collaborating with security agencies to ensure that such incident does not occur again,” he said.

According to him, the state government will not tolerate any act of lawlessness by individual or group of person.

“I have directed that appropriate steps should be taken to investigate and fish out the perpetrators who will be punished according to the law.

The governor, however, called for synergy between traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies to enforce law and order in their communities.

Killings: Kaduna Christians threaten to resort to self defence

Christian youths have threatened to resort to self defence any time Fulani herdsmen attack any village in the Southern Kaduna Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

They premised their threat on the alleged complacency or complicity of the security agencies and politicians in the attacks.

According to them, since Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has claimed that the Fulani terrorists killing Christians were foreigners, the Federal Government should close Nigeria borders with Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic without delay.

They also urged the Kaduna State House of Assembly “to impeach El-Rufai immediately” for allegedly conniving with terrorists to kill Nigerians.”

Operating under the aegis of Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing), the youths, who condemned the plan by the governor to compensate Fulani herdsmen for their lost cattle as well as sponsoring them as delegates to meet Fulani leaders outside Nigeria, condemned the verbal attacks being launched against the President of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle by El-Rufai.

The National President of YOWICAN, Daniel Kadzai, in Abuja Monday also described as untrue, the claims by El-Rufai that the masterminds of the attacks “who organised themselves and came back for revenge” in Southern Kaduna and Plateau State came from outside Nigeria.

The governor was said to have while debunking the comments of the CAN President, attributed the killing of Christians in Southern Kaduna communities to bandits claiming that “the same Fulani are killing Fulani in Zamfara State.”

While warning him to stop playing politics with the killing of Christians, Kadzai said the unfortunate condemnation of the CAN President over the killing of Christians had further exposed the governor’s refusal to come to terms with realities for political reasons.

He said, “Whether the Fulani terrorists are from Nigeria or not, we the Christian youths agree that there is a deliberate and calculated attempt to cleanse Christians in Nigeria. Thus, we call on all Christians to resist attacks.

“In conclusion, we call on the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to respect the CAN President and know that Christians have the right to self defence, especially where there is complacency or complicity on the part of security operatives and politicians.”

According to YOWICAN, the decision by El-Rufai to compensate the Fulani amounted to playing to the gallery and smacks of sentiments without recourse to the Christians killed or the plight of their mourning families.

Kadzai said, “It is the highest point of insensitivity to use state funds to pay and placate the aggressors/terrorists at the expense of the victims.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of CAN in Kaduna State on Monday faulted alleged threat by the governor to arrest those calling on the people of Southern Kaduna to embark on self-defence if they were attacked by the Fulani herdsmen.

The CAN Chairman in the state, Bishop George Dodo, said it was most unfortunate for the state government to be calling for the arrest of those who would resort to self defence when the  government was incapable of protecting the people.

Dodo said even the United Nations Charter on Human Rights recognised the right to self-defence as an act of protection.

He argued that “if animals are entitled to self-defence, why should human beings not be entitled to that?”

Addressing journalists shortly after its Chairman-in-Council meeting in the state capital on Monday, the CAN Chairman also carpeted the governor for saying that his administration had to pay  the Fulani herdsmen in order to halt the killings in Southern Kaduna.

800 Herdsmen arrested over violent attacks across Nigeria.

Security agencies in Nigeria have arrested about 800 suspected violent herdsmen across the country, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo made this disclosure in Houston, Texas in the US on Friday at a Townhall event where he interacted with US-based Nigerians who asked questions live at the event and also via the Internet, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson Mr. Laolu Akande in Houston.

The Vice President fielded about thirty questions at a well attended townhall event moderated by Mr. Rudolf Okonkwo of Sahara Reporters and Prof. Nimi Wariboko of Boston University.

Asked about the issue of Fulani Herdsmen attacks in certain states across the country and what the Federal Government was doing to curb the problem, the Vice President said “the President has given firm instructions to the security agencies to arrest not only herdsmen who are attacking communities anywhere in the country but anyone of them or anyone at all in possession of firearms.”

He added that “there are about 800 of suspected violent herdsmen in the country that are currently in custody.” The Vice President however decried the slow pace of the criminal justice system which is affecting the prompt trial of such suspects.

Prof. Osinbajo reminded the audience however that the issue of killings by such violent herdsmen has been a perennial issue especially as grazing lands continue to disappear over the years and the cattle feed on peoples crops on the farmlands. He clarified that the matter just did not crop up when President Buhari assumed office.

Vice President Osinbajo then urged against the tendency of interpreting the herdsmen issue as a religious issue, stressing that it is important for all Nigerians to refuse such divisive narratives and tendencies.

He reminded his audience that there has always been conflict between herdsmen and communities across the country and that people should disabuse the notion that the problem has just started because President Buhari, a Fulani is currently at the helm of affairs in the country.

Answering question on the need for community policing, the Vice President indicated that community policing via State Police is indeed a cardinal program of the ruling APC. However the party agenda cannot be introduced until there is an amendment to the nation’s constitution.

Giving a scenario where a policeman from Bayelsa State for instance is working in Borno State where he cannot even speak the language or understand the culture of the people he is policing, noting that such is counterproductive.

The current situation where police activities is controlled at the federal level sure has some limitations, he conceded adding that the “ the federal government is currently working to introduce community policing that would be in line with the constitution.”

Commenting on the recent arrest of judges in the country, Prof. Osinbajo told his Nigerian audience in Texas that impunity could be very dangerous in any sector and that the federal government is only exercising its executive function in attempting to check excesses.

He pointed out that the important thing is that due process is being followed as the judges were released about 24 hours after their arrest and once they had given their statements.

The Vice President also responded to a question on the state of the nation’s economy and attributed the current recession to the loss of about 60 percent of government revenue due to pipeline vandalisation and endemic corruption in the system.

He however stated that getting back oil production is a sure way to get out of the recession and the federal government is working to sort it out.

Answering question from the internet on when former President Goodluck Jonathan would be arrested, Osinbajo pointed out that the Buhari administration is not in the business of arresting just anyone anyhow. He said all the Buhari administration does is to empower the security agencies and the anti-corruption agencies to do their jobs, without the administration trying to teleguide them.

He also added that the fight against corruption in the country is not fought on ethnic, hasty or premediated grounds.

According to him, “ corruption is not an ethnic thing, there is an equal representation in the stealing as no one operates with his/her ethnic group alone, the culprits are in every case seen so far, united by greed to steal and not by ethnic or religious interest.”

He frowned at a situation where for instance as much as $15 billion has disappeared from the national coffers into private pockets, pointing out that no responsible government would wave that aside so as not to offend people.

Commenting on the declining fortunes of Nigeria in international sporting competitions occasioned by poor funding by the government, the Vice President said that a long-term solution to inadequate funding of sports is private sector involvement.

According to him, looking around countries that have excelled in international sporting competitions, the private sector in those countries are directly involved and that is exactly what should happen in Nigeria.

By the time companies and organizations take up sports sponsorship, he believes that the tide would change for good.

Nigerians from all walks of life in Houston, Texas and from other parts of the US attended the town hall meeting which was preceded by a Nigeria Infrastructure summit which showcased opportunities for foreign investors in Nigeria.

Anti-grazing law may degenerate into major crisis – Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said the anti-grazing law on Fulani herdsmen was a welcome development across Nigeria, but called for care in handling the issue.

The Ooni made this known at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe on Thursday.

He recalled that the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, had recently signed the prohibition of cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti Bill, 2016 to Law, which prevented free grazing of cattle in the state and carrying of firearms by herdsmen, as well restriction of grazing period to between 7am and 6pm

The new law prescribed six months jail term without option of fine to any herdsman, who is found guilty.
The development had raised concern in the state as Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, had stated that the anti-malu vigilante by the state government was not ant only provoking,  but capable of creating uncontrollable scenarios whose ramification may go well beyond the state.

The Ooni, however, said his plea for caution became necessary in order not to allow the issue degenerate into a major crisis.

He said, “We need to be careful handling the threat posed by some herdsmen across the country, especially in the Yoruba region of the country.

“Because Nigeria is a federation and Ekiti State is in a federation, there is need for care in the handling of the issue because it could degenerate.”

Fight back, defend yourselves if herdsmen attack you – Fayose charges Ekiti people.

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday exploded in anger in reaction to the threat of reprisal attack by the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), an umbrella body of herdsmen who alleged that some of their cattle were killed recently.

While reacting to the governor’s inauguration of the Ekiti Grazing Law Enforcement , EGEM, recently, Miyetti AllaMarshalsh, had said in a statement on Saturday that the Federal Government must intervene in the inauguration of the marshals, which the herdsmen alleged had shot five of their cows, warning that: “before this incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.”

In the statement signed by its spokesman, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, the group said: “Fayose unleashed the marshals against our members whose herds of cattle had gone to a stream at Agon bridge on Federal Polytechnic Road between the time of 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to quench their thirst on Friday, October 21 ,” claiming that “the vigilance group shot five cows and carted away the meat, but the herdsman was able to flee with the rest of his cattle.”

But Fayose dismissed Miyetti Allah’s claims as untrue and disclosed that the said five cows are alive and in custody of the state government.

Furious at the herdsmen’s threat, governor Fayose asked if the lives of cattle is more important than that of human beings, asking why did the group didn’t write the president when their colleagues were killing hundreds in Benue and Plateau states respectively. “Why didn’t Miyetti Allah that is now calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to warn me, the custodian of the mandate of Ekiti people warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands? Are their cows more important than human lives?

“To us in Ekiti, lives of 5,000 cows cannot be equated with those of human beings that are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers. If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the State. After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some States in the north is also being enforced.”

Fayose blamed the Federal Government on its silence on the development, saying: “Four days after this threat was issued against the government and people of Ekiti State by the Miyetti Allah, the federal government is yet to act in any manner that will disabuse the minds of Ekiti people, who believed that the federal government is in support of the threat.

“The silence of the federal government has no doubt further confirmed the insinuation that there is plot to give tacit support to the
herdsmen to invade some border towns and villages in Ekiti State and cause chaos in the State so as to justify the evil agenda of declaration of a state of emergency on the State.”

The governor who recalled the herdsmen’s killing of hundreds in some parts of the country in the name of same reprisal attack, further said

”Nigerians should be reminded that in May, this year, Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria said openly that the reason for the killing of over 1,000 people in Benue State was the killing of over 800 cattle by Tiv youths. In other words, Miyetti Allah boldly told Nigerians that its members (herdsmen) killed over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue State because their cows were killed!

” Up till today, no one has been arrested for the massacre in Agatu in Benue State and now, Ekiti State and its people are being threatened by this same Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the federal government has pretended as if nothing was wrong.

He continued: ” From the words and antecedents of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, it is clear that they have assurance beyond their personal minds from the federal government to kill Nigerians in place of their cows. If not, by now, the man who signed that press statement, threatening the entire people of Ekiti State ought to have been arrested and questioned.
” Therefore, in view of the above, we wish to tell Nigerians and the entire world that in the event of any invasion of Ekiti State by killer herdsmen, the federal government should be held responsible.

” The herdsmen and those urging them on should also be informed that any attack on one Ekiti person is an attack on all Ekitis and we shall not sit back and allow our people to be killed under the guise of cattle rearing.

”In the event of federal government’s security agencies refusal to secure the lives and properties of Ekiti people, the people will have no option than to defend themselves. Our forefathers did same in the famous Kiriji War and we won’t mind doing the same now!”

The governor challenged Ekiti people to be on alert against any attack by herdsmen, saying: “I am, therefore, using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of border towns in the State on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.”

He also reiterated his resolve on the grazing law he signed in the state: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill, 2016 that was signed into law on August 29, 2016 remains in force.

” Therefore, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria should rather tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing ranch, which the government is always willing to give.

”It is strange that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke Ako in Ekiti State. So strange that the same Miyetti Allah that defended the murder of over 1,000 Agatu people of Benue State and kept silent when herdsmen killed over 100 people killed in Enugu State and a traditional ruler was killed in Delta State suddenly found its voice when Ekiti State government decided to curb the murderous activities of its men.

Protest in Enugu as 200 Herdsmen Invade Community

Residents of an Enugu community, Agu Obodo of Obeagwu Ozalla in Nkanu West Local Government Area, have protested the arrival of over 200 Fulani herdsmen and their cows in the area.

The panicky residents said they were overwhelmed by the arrival of over five trucks that were loaded with the herdsmen, their families and cows.

The residents urged the “strangers” to leave their land within three days because they could no longer go to their farms.

President-General of Ozalla Development Union (ODU), Chief Afam Ani, who led the protesting women, youths and traditional rulers, said the arrival of the herdsmen at the weekend caused serious anxiety among the people.

The community leader said residents living close to their farms abandoned them and took refuge in other parts of the town.

He told reporters that when the herdsmen were queried, they claimed to have been evicted from their previous settlement at Maryland in Enugu South Local Government Area and decided to resettle at Ozalla.

Ani said the residents had reported the matter to security agencies, the local and state governments to evict the herdsmen.

The community leader recalled what he called an ugly experience the community had with the herdsmen in 2012 when they allegedly attacked, raped and destroyed property.

He said: “There should be no doubt whatsoever that what we are faced with is the forcible invasion of our homeland by Fulani herdsmen who are likely armed with dangerous weapons. We consider this act to be extremely provocative and totally unacceptable to our people.”

The community leader said the herdsmen agreed to vacate the community within three days, adding that he had pleaded with security agencies to enforce the agreement.

A traditional ruler of one of the autonomous communities in Ozalla, Igwe C. O. Okafor, described the development as embarrassing.

The monarch said the herdsmen did not consult the community, either themselves or by proxy, before moving into the community.

He urged the government and security agencies to evict the herdsmen because of the security threat they posed to the community.

Fulani Herdsmen: Confiscated cows to go for ‘stomach infrastructure’ – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has declared that any cow confiscated under the State Grazing Regulation Law will be slaughtered and shared to the people as part of the “Stomach Infrastructure” policy of his administration.

The governor who disclosed this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti during the inauguration of Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) said herdsmen caught grazing their cattle beyond the 6.00 pm risks six months jail while their animals will be confiscated.

Fayose explained that the setting up of the EGEM force was a further step to nip the killing of innocent people and destruction of their means of livelihood by armed herdsmen in the bud.

The EGEM men thrilled the audience with their parade while local hunters also performed at the ceremony. Some of the marshals displayed placards some of which read “No To Terrorism By Herdsmen”, Fayose Is Working, Ekiti Is Moving”, among others.

Fayose who were an olive green long sleeve shirt with a camouflage fez cap to match explained that the marshals are not to carry arms and therefore would collaborate with security agencies empowered by law to carry arms to tackle armed cattle rearers.

He said: ?”We have a right to life and to survive and holding things for our survival especially peasant farmers, whose means of livelihood are taken away by cattle feeding on their crops.? If the gains of peasant farmers are taken away in a jiffy, that is condemnable.?

“We will bring to a permanent end, the situation whereby some people take away the means of livelihood of others.

“On August 29, 2016, the Anti-Grazing Bill was passed by the House of Assembly and the bill was signed into law by me on August 30.? Some people go as far as grazing in the night when farmers are no longer at their farms.?

“Any cattle found grazing after the time stipulated by the law will be confiscated by the government.Such cattle will be sold or killed on the spot ?and shared to people as part of our Stomach Infrastructure programme,” he said.

The governor had Wednesday last week personally stopped open grazing along Afao Road and supervised the “arrest” of a cow on his way to commissioning projects in Ikole Ekiti.

Fayose contended that 10, 000 cattle could not compensate for the life of the human being lost to a conflict between herdsmen and local farmers.

While frowning at cattle rustling by some people, Fayose added that the law was in the interest of cattle rearers too, as their operations would be streamlined.

The governor added that the phone numbers of the marshals would be made public and warned the marshals against going beyond their mandate.

“This is not an opportunity to harass or intimidate innocent people. You are to enforce the law and not to break it. Anybody found going beyond his bounds would be dealt with accordingly,” he stressed.

In her opening remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, said the law had helped in curbing incessant attacks on local farmers by herdsmen and feasting on crops by cattle.

The Chairman, Hunters Association, Ikole Local Government, Joseph Osasona, commended Fayose for the initiative.

Osasona recalle?d that it was the prompt intervention of the governor in Oke Ako-Ekiti early in the year when some armed herdsmen attacked the people, that sent a strong signal to lawbreakers to stay away from the state.

He noted that it was inhuman for anybody to jeopardise the lives and means of livelihood of others because he wants to rear cattle.

Five Feared Killed As Hausa, Fulani Clash Over A Girl In Lagos

No fewer than five persons were yesterday feared killed and many others injured as some Hausa and Fulani men clash in Lagos

The cause of the fracas in Abbattior/Kara, Agege, was the alleged robbery of some Hausa men by some Fulani boys at a hotel in Kogiri.

The police confirmed the clash but said only one person died in the violence that lasted for many hours.

The area was tension-soaked in spite of the heavy security presence and the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

There were many accounts of the incident as recounted by those who claimed to have knowledge of it.

A trader who gave his name as Usman said the Hausa boys complained to their brothers and a complaint was filed before the Seriki Fulani, Bello Damobapa, who allegedly took no action to sanction the boys.

Angered by the alleged silence of the Seriki, the Hausa boys were said to have stormed his palace on Tuesday night and vandalised three Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) belonging to him, his deputy and secretary.

By yesterday morning, it was learnt that a crowd of Fulani boys armed with sticks, bottles and cutlasses trooped to the railway lines where Hausa scraps collectors operate and started attacking people.

Usman said: “I usually sleep here but last night something just made me go home and I did. So I came out here around 7am and one woman told me to go back that Hausa and Fulani men were fighting.

“But I crossed to the other side and I saw a large number of Fulani people. They were carrying sticks with which they rear cattle, cutlasses and bottles. They were marching down, attacking anyone in sight

“The retreating Hausa men regrouped and confronted the Fulani group. The Hausa group called their kins from other markets for reinforcement. They came from Katangura, Agege and other markets. They chased the Fulani back into the abattoir complex.

“By that time, the police and soldiers had not come.  When they chased the Fulani people back, the Fulani went into the market and started attacking anyone they saw. They attacked even people who are not Hausa.

Police spokesman Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said four persons had been arrested.

She said the fight erupted following the assault of a Hausa girl by a Fulani man.

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Five feared killed as Hausa, Fulani clash

Women Protests Herdsmen Invasion In A‘Ibom

Women of Ikot Umoessien Community in Odoro Ikot Clan, Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom at the weekend embarked on peaceful protest to express their dismay over incessant destruction of their crops and farmland by Fulani herdsmen.

The protesters led by the women leader, in the area Deaconess Martha Philip express grievances and draw Government attention to their plights as law abiding citizens.

The demonstrators who carried placards which reads; “We believe in Udom Dakada spirit but herdsmen is our bane,” Ikot Umoessien people are peace lovers, herdsmen leave our farm,” Our crops are destroyed by Fulani cattle “Enough is enough leave us in peace,” Government please visit our community for redress marched through the streets of Ikot Umoessien to the military barracks in the area.

They were however received by the officer in-charge, of the formation Isaiah Davies who thanked the women for their peaceful conduct and promised to convey their grievances to his superiors.

Briefing the soldiers Deaconess Martha Philip beaming with emotions, expressed sadness over the activities of the Fulani herdsmen who rendered their farming efforts to nullity.

Hear her, “our crops are destroyed on daily basis especially cassava, how do we survive next year? We do not go to their farms to destroy their rice, yam even tomatoes they sold to us/ They should leave our farmland,” she concluded.

The Clan head of Odoro Ikot, His Highness Obong G. T Umoren, who received the protesters thanked the women for their courage even as he expressed displeasure over the activities of the cattle shepherds.

Disarm Herdsmen, Anglican Church Tells FG

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent actions to “disarm all Fulani herdsmen ravaging the country.”

The church, which premised its demand on the need to stem the wave of attacks and killings of harmless farmers in the country, also called on the Christian Association of Nigeria to map out strategies to curb the killings of Christians in the country.

The position of the Anglican Church was contained in a communique on Sunday by Bishop Rev. Duke Akamisoko after the second session of the third synod held at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, Kubwa in Abuja.

The church expressed disappointment with the prevalent attacks on farming communities by the herdsmen in different parts of the country, stressing that the situation was inimical to Nigeria’s desire to promote agriculture.

Akamisoko said, “The Synod notes with dismay the prevalent attacks on farming communities by Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the country and demand that more decisive actions should be taken by the government to disarm the herdsmen to stem the rising wave of attacks and killings of harmless farmers as this is inimical to its desire to diversify our economy through agriculture.”

The cleric noted that while the church was trying to recover from the effect of the massive destruction of lives and property in the North-East by Boko Haram insurgents, the incessant killings of Christians, like the women killed in Kano and Kubwa, were worrisome.

The Bishop also called on the three arms of government to guard the constitutional provisions of freedom of worship and association.

Speaking on the government’s anti-corruption crusade, the church appreciated the efforts of the government, advising the anti-graft agencies to adopt a strategy that would cut across all arms and tiers of government, agencies and departments.

Akamisoko enjoined Nigerians to cooperate with the government for effective result.

Deadly Clash Between Fulani, Gbagyi Communities Displaces 250 In Niger State

No fewer than 250 people have been displaced due to a clash between Fulani herdsmen and Gbagyi farmers in Niger state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report that the clash led to the death of four persons and destruction of property in Bara-kuta in Bosso Local Government Area on Friday.

Ahmed Inga, Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Minna on Tuesday.

He said the displaced people were being resettled in a school in Bosso while reconciliation was ongoing toward returning them to their homes.

“The state government has established links with the herdsmen and the farmers toward restoring lasting peace in the area to enable the Gwagyis go back to their homes and attend to their farms.

“We have to do everything possible to make sure that peace returns to the community to ensure the security of lives and property,” he said.

Mr. Inga said the peace initiative was being brokered by the state’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Mamman Bosso, the Emir of Minna, Umaru Bahago as well as security agencies.

The director general added that 167 houses were burnt while 17 motorcycles and other property were destroyed during the clash.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Many Feared Killed As Herdsmen Invade Enugu Communities

Scores of persons have been reportedly killed in the Fulani herdsmen invasion of Ukpabi,Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State in the early of hours of today. Armed Fulani-herdsmen Natives have fled to neighboring communities of Nkpologu and Uvuru, even as Nkpologu natives fled to Nsukka in fear of attacks. Police Public Relations Officer,Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident to Vanguard on the telephone. He said a combined team of police and Army have moved to the area.

Details later…

Source – vanguardngr.com

Herdsmen Sack Benue Community, Take Over Territory

Despite efforts by the Federal and Benue State governments to end clashes between herdsmen and farmers, indications emerged yesterday that Moor, a council ward in Kwande Local Government Area of the state had been sacked by armed herdsmen.
Vanguard learned that the crisis, which dates back to 2013, has left over 100 persons dead, scores sustaining varying degrees of injuries and close to 8,000 displaced.

A source said: “Moor in Kwande Local Government Area is now an occupied territory. Herdsmen have sacked the inhabitants from their ancestral homes and taken over the council

ward.

The crisis started as far back as 2013 and has led to the death of over 100 persons and many others injured.

“All the local government clinics, including 21 primary and secondary schools in the area, have been completely destroyed. The indigenes of the community are refugees in other communities.”

Corroborating the story, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Boniface Otese, said the agency had been making concerted efforts to avail the displaced persons necessary relief materials.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said police, military and other sister security agencies were working round the clock to ensure that peace and normalcy returned to every trouble spot in the state.

Source: Vanguard

Police Order Registration Of Herdsmen In Ondo

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Hilda Harrison, yesterday said her command could no longer fold its arms and allow the excesses of Fulani herdsmen to go unchecked. Harrison ordered that all herdsmen operating in the state should be registered for identification purposes. She warned that unregistered cattle rearers would not be allowed to operate in the state, saying the head of the Hausa/ Fulani community where such herdsmen foment trouble would be held responsible.

The police commissioner spoke at an interactive session with stakeholders in Akure, the state capital. Stakeholders at the meeting included local farmers, heads of Hausa/ Fulani communities across the state, traditional rulers and leaders of Miyyatti Allah. She said: “Farmers and cattle rearers have been living together in this state before now. We need to come together, especially now that the price of petroleum products has come down; also, we should go back to the farm.

“We cannot do without one another and we must realise we need each other to earn our daily bread. Therefore, let us make efforts to promote peace in the state. “We are going to register every Hausa/Fulani community in the state. The leaders must know the number of herdsmen in their various camps. They must be registered and have identity cards. Henceforth, the leaders will be held responsible for the activities of the herdsmen.

“Nobody can take law into his or her hand. It will catch up with you. We can never compromise law and order. Police cannot fold their arms and allow a breakdown of law and order.”

Harrison urged farmers in the state not to go on any reprisal attack whenever they have issues with the herdsmen, saying “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Credit: NationalMirror

Agatu People Triggered Crisis By Killing 10,000 Of Our Cattle- Fulani Community Leader

The Fulani community in Benue State, accused of killing hundreds in Agatu in Benue State, said Thursday that the crisis started after 10,000 of cattle belonging to its members were killed by Agatu natives.

Ado Boderi, who spoke on behalf of the Fulani community on Thursday, during a meeting between Agatu community, Fulani community and Police Inspector General Solomon Arase, said criminal elements from both sides escalated the crisis despite the quick intervention of the governor.

He said that Fulani herdsmen were a peace-loving people, whose main concern was the problem of cattle rustling.

Akpa Iduh, who spoke on behalf of the Agatu people, decried the continued unprovoked attacks on his people by “Fulani mercenaries”.

Mr. Iduh, who said that the crisis started over five decades ago, lamented that it had recently turned into a war because of the types of weapons the herdsmen were using against them.

He alleged that the “Fulani mercenaries” were killing both children and pregnant women on sight, adding that they were powerless after embracing the Benue Amnesty Programme and surrendered illegal arms to government.

“The herdsmen are bent on turning our land into their grazing area, thereby rendering us homeless and without food.

“Is it because we are minority and poor that they are using their numerical advantage and wealth against us?

“We are going to remain in Agatu until the day they have succeeded in killing all of us.”

The Inspector- General of Police, Solomon Arase, said in Makurdi that the force had deployed enough policemen to end the clashes between Agatu farmers and herdsmen in Benue.

Credit: PremuimTimes

Agatu Youths Give FG Two Days Ultimatum To Stop Fulani Attacks

The Agatu Youth Movement, AYM, has called on the Federal and State Government to as a matter of urgency act on the endless killings in the area or face a massive act of civil disobedience from its citizens.

 

President of the group, Comrade Jeremiah Friday in a statement issued on Wednesday asked the relevant authority to act fast before it was too late.

 

According to Friday, “We are using this medium to call the attention of the Federal and State Government to respond quickly to the killing of Agatu people by Fulani herdsmen.
“Our homes are being destroyed, our people are being killed and those alive are in pain. Parents and children have been rendered helpless. We sleep with our two eyes open. The State Federal Government is silent about it.

 

“We hereby give the Federal and State Governments two days to put a stop to these killings otherwise we shall mobilise youths from the Local to protest the silence of the authorities but to resort to self-help.”

10 Killed And Hundreds Homeless As Herdsmen Attack Benue Villages

About 10 people were feared dead yesterday, in fresh attacks between Fulani herdsmen and farmers at Tom-Anyiin and Tom-Ataan communities, Mbaya, Tombu in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. The Council Chairman, Godwin Iorsue, the Divisional Police Officer at Buruku, the Area Commander and some security operatives in the area, on assessment tour of the communities, were ambushed and attacked by the herdsmen who had seized the area after they chased off the indigenes.
The renewed crisis has created a huge refugee situation in the area with over 300 people displaced from the affected communities and scores injured in the bloody attack.

A source from one of the affected communities said that the Fulani invaders stormed the communities
late Saturday night, shooting sporadically and burning down houses, huts, food barn, farmland and economic trees.
The source said:

“As I speak with you, fighting is still raging in the affected communities. Although I cannot give you a precise figure of the dead, about 10 have been killed, many are missing and many others sustained injures.”

The Council Chairman, Mr. Godwin Iorsue said they were ambushed and attacked by the herdsmen as they went to assess the extent of damage that had been done by the Herdsmen.
He said: “It was only God that saved us. They were over 30 and well armed while we had only four armed police officers with us. Our cars were perforated with bullets.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent Moses Yamu said:

“The people ran away from their communities in fear of a possible attack by Fulani herdsmen, but there were neither killing nor destruction of property in the area. “I can confirm that the DPO, the Area Commander, the Caretaker Council Chairman and selected stakeholders were attacked by suspected herdsmen when they visited to assess the situation in the area.

Vanguard

Rustlers Invade Fulani Settlement In Taraba, Steal 600 Cattle

More than 600 cattle were stolen while three were herdsmen killed by cattle rustlers at Gareji village of Wukari local government area in Taraba state midnight on Sunday. This brings to 17, 500 cattle stolen in Taraba in the last three years, the chairman Miyyetti Allah Association of Nigeria Taraba state branch, Alhaji Mafindi Danbauran said.

He said the rustler about ten in number and well-armed invaded the Fulani settlement at Gareji mid night and carted away the animals.

The chairman stated that during the attack, three herds men were killed while some women were abducted to unknown locations.

He said some local tribes’ men were suspected to be behind the attack as they were responsible of similar attacks in the past.

Alhaji Danburan said the number of cows stolen in the state by cattle rustlers from 2013 to date was 17500 while over 200 herds men were killed by the rustlers.

He called on the federal government to set up special task force on cattle rustling in the state to safe guard the herdsmen and their animals.

Credit: DailyTrust

Delta Communities Bar Fulani Herdsmen From Domains

Worried by their destructive tendencies across the state, some communities in Isoko North and Ndokwa East Local Government Areas Delta State, have barred Fulani herdsmen from bringing their herds to graze in their domains.  The communities include Ashaka, Ushie and Igbuku in Ndokwa East and Ofagbe, Isoko North Local Government Area.  They also resolved that Fulani herdsmen already living in their communities would be directed to withdraw their herds from their lands with immediate effect.

Fulani herdsmenThe resolution was sequel to last week’s Fulani herdsmen attack on Ofagbe community which left one Mr. Japheth Inibu dead and one other, Mr. Thompson Ogege critically injured.

In a communiqué issued at a meeting with the Chairmen of Isoko North and Ndokwa East Local Government councils, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor and Mrs. Nkechi Chukura respectively at Ashaka, the communities also cited the killing of one other person at Afor community in Ndokwa East as part of their grievances. Fulani-herdsmen-new

The communiqué signed by the communities’ representatives, Chief Gabriel Avwodeha,  Chief Edoro Edafeyoma and others, warned that anyone found to be collecting money from the herdsmen with a view to allocating lands for them for grazing purposes would be arrested and made to face legal actions.  Other grievance listed in the communiqué includes armed robbery, raping of the communities’ women, destruction of their farmlands amongst others being orchestrated by the herdsmen.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of Isoko North Local Government council, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor appealed to the Ofagbe community and the bereaved family to remain calm, assuring them that the state government was handling the situation.  He said the leadership of the Fulani herdsmen in the state had been invited by the state government and security agencies with a view to identifying and bringing the culprits to book.

Kwankwaso Advocates Education For Fulani To End Herdsmen, Farmer Clashes

Former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advocated a quick return of boarding facilities to public schools in the country as well as compulsory education for the Fulani.

He said this will go a long way in putting a stop to the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

He also said the time has come to tell those making succession threats to shut up.

Kwankwaso made the call in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the weekend as a special guest of honour at the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the set of 1965-71 of Government College, Ibadan, where Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. formally donated two sets of pre-fabricated staff quarters to the institution.

Credit: NationalMirror

Fulani Herdsmen Invade Falae’s Farm Again

Barely two weeks after some fulani herdsmen attacked and kidnapped the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Olu Falae, some herdsmen have again destroyed the same  farmland.

Fulani-herdsman

The farm Manager Bruno ?Akhigbodemen conducted newsmen round the farm located at Ilado in Akure North Council area of Ondo State

Over one kilometer plantation of maize was destroyed during the invasion at about 2am on Monday.

?Akhigbodemen said that the herdsmen arrived the farm with their cows and wrecked the havoc despite the horrible experience the workers and their boss had in the last two week sequel to their menace?.

He pointed out that ?effort by the guards to prevent the destruction of the farmland were rebuffed as they were threatened by the herdsmen until their cows grazed to their satisfaction.

The farm Manager said that the former Finance minister has reported the latest destruction to the state Police Command for necessary action.

Vanguard learnt that following the complaint by Chief Falae, some detectives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) ?were immediately deployed to the farm on Monday.

They reportedly combed the neighboring villages for the suspects but they were unable to make any arrest.

Report had it that the search still continues as some detectives still keep vigil in the village.

It was gathered that the police authority has invited leaders of the herdsmen in the state who stood surety for those that were arrested and released during the last invasion when over N500, 000 worth of farm products were destroyed.

?Akhigbodemen described the destruction of the farm last week sunday as devastating.

He appealed to the government and the security operatives to act decisively on the menace of the herdsmen.

Chief Falae could not be reached for comment on the destruction of his farmland which is coming after his kidnapped and payment of N5m ransom to free him from his abductors.

It would be recalled that the former Minister for Finance has been having issues with the  fulani herdsmen ?whose cows have on several occasions destroyed his farmland.

He is billed to travel abroad this weekend for medical treatment after his horrifying experience which he described as ” hell”.

The latest destruction according to findings is the fifth within two months.

Before his kidnap barely two weeks ago, two fulani herdsmen were arrested and detained for destroying over N500,000 worth of farm products on the farm.

They were released after some of their leaders wrote an undertaker that they would pay compensation and would not encroach on the farm again.

Barely three weeks after the episode, Chief Falae was abducted by some gun wielding Fulani herdsmen on the same farmland and was released after 72 hours.

No fewer than three policemen have been deployed to his Oba Ile residence since his kidnap last month.

Contacted on the Sunday invasion and destruction of the farm by the Fulani herdsmen, the Police Image Maker Femi Joseph said that he is not aware of the incident.

Joseph was recently posted to the state and made the Command spokesman  last week.

The Carnage, Tyranny Of Fulani Herdsmen May Not End Soon – Fani-Kayode

”I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death and Hades was following close behind him”- Revelations 6 v.8.
With recent events, it is clear that the biblical ”four horses of the Apocalypse” may well have been unleashed on Nigeria.
I support the call by Afenifere that all Fulani herdsmen should be banned from the south-west. Actually, I believe that they should be banned from the entire south and not just the south west.

I also stand by every word that I wrote in my widely published essay titled ”The Herdsmen From Hell.” This contribution serves as a follow up to that essay.
The bottom line is this: we do not want those that slaughter innocent people, including women and children, in our midst.
Those that say that we must remain silent when aliens and vandals invade our land, rape our women
and kill our people are, at best, misinformed and misuguided and, at worse, insensitive and wicked.
How can they expect us to remain silent when our elders and leaders are being terrorised and brutalised on a regular basis. Those that harbor such views and that have such misgivings are suffering from a callous and diseased state of mind and they shall be put to shame.
No matter what they say, we will continue to expose and resist this barbarity and we shall continue to call it precisely what it is: pure and unadulterated evil. We shall not be intimidated by those that seek to silence us and neither shall we cowered into silence.
I have no regrets for describing those murderous Fulani herdsmen as tsetse flies. Actually, they are worse than that because, like Satan, they only come to kill, steal and destroy.
It is obvious to any discerning mind that this categorization is limited to those Fulani herdsmen that indulge in barbaric and criminal activities and not the entire Fulani race.
Like any other ethnic group there are good Fulanis and there are bad ones. For someone to suggest that we ought to spare the bad ones simply because we are scared of offending the sensibilities of the good ones makes no sense to me.
I have many Fulani friends and the last thing on my mind would be to demonise an entire ethnic group. For anyone to suggest that a literary attack and a verbal assault on a bunch murderers and killers who happen to be of Fulani extraction is an attack on the entire Fulani race is absurd.
Worse still to describe such an attack as ”hate speech against the Fulani tribe” is simply asinine: it is nothing more than the gross manifestation of a subterranean slave mentality and an attempt at sucking up to those that believe that they own Nigeria.
Those that have voiced such puerile nonsense ought to provide an answer to the following question: should we remain silent when we see some wicked and uneducated cattle rearers committing atrocities which may, if not properly checked, result in a full scale ethnic war.
If the herdsmen had been Yoruba or Igbo I would have condemned them in similar terms and labelled them in precisely the same way. I may even have gone further because I would have expected far better from my own people.
I also happen to know that if Yoruba or Igbo traders or farmers went to the core north and singled-out the elders, leaders, traditional rulers and women and children of the Fulani tribe for murder, pillage, torture and rape all hell would have broken loose by now and their reaction would not have been limited to harsh words, strongly-worded essays and uncomplimentary categorizations.
The bottom line is this: the days of us keeping quiet and suffering in silence in the name of political correctness are long over. If we don’t want trouble and we don’t want matters to escalate we must speak out against evil very clearly and very quickly and we must condemn and correctly label those that like to shed human blood at the drop of a hat.
This is especially so when they prey on the weak, the elderly and the more vulnerable in our society. It is the gutless cowards that live amongst us that seek to play down the pillage, murder and rape of others that are guilty of hate crimes and collusion with genocidal maniacs and not those of us that have the courage to call a spade a spade.
Those that support the atrocities of the herdsmen are insensitive to the feelings and sufferings of others and that is the biggest crime of all. They hate the victims of these terrible atrocities and they love and make excuses for the perpetrators.
They are completely incapable of any form of empathy with those that have been violated and slaughtered and in their heart of hearts they relish the atrocities and they consider them fair game and fair sport.
A good example of such people is the individual who leads an organisation which is supposed to protect the rights of the less fortunate in our society.
This individual apparently does not deem it appropriate to stand up against the evil that the herdsmen have been indulging in for the last few years and he prefers to pamper them. Why am I not surprised?
Instead of speaking up for the human rights and civil liberties of those that have been maimed, killed and persecuted as he has been charged to do, the man is busy trying to say things that are politically correct.
Whilst he is attempting to please and impress his new paymasters people are being killed by his cattle-rearing friends on a daily basis.
I say shame on him and those that think like him and I honestly believe that the blood of those innocent people that have been maimed and slaughtered by the herdsman are partly on his hands because he has encouraged them with his complicit silence and his veiled support.
Given the attitude of men like that, coupled with the apparent indifference of the Federal Government to the whole issue, it is clear that the carnage and tyranny of the Fulani herdsmen may not end any time soon.
I say this because barely ten days after the abduction and matcheting (yes matcheting) of Chief Olu Falae and on October 1st 2015, which is Nigeria’s independence day, the Fulani herdsmen struck again.
On that day they abducted a traditional ruler from the Yoruba-speaking area of Kogi state. His name is Oba Adebisi Obademi and they abducted him from his palace in Apa-Bunu in the Kabba-Bunu area of his state. They have asked the family to pay a ransom for his release.
On the same day, they released a 70 year old Yoruba cleric by the name of Pastor Japhet Obafemi who is from Ilepa, Ikare Akoko in Ondo state. They had abducted him and kept him in tortuous captivity for 11 grueling days. Sadly a number of others whose homes were invaded by the herdsmen were not so lucky.
Mr. Agbaose Sowetan from Oja-Odan, Ogun state and Mrs. Ayeshi Balogun from Asa village, Ogun state, both of whom were farmers, were not allowed to go home to their families but instead they were murdered in cold blood.
According to press reports Mrs. Balogun, who was a mother of three, was gang-raped before being hacked to death.
Can there be any greater evil than this? Who will tame these wicked and hard-hearted herdsmen and who will clip the wings of these bloodthirsty cattle-rearers?
Who will deliver us from these sadists and terrorists that have no sense of restraint or remorse and that have no mercy or compassion? Who will stand up to them boldly and say “let my people go”?
Permit me to conclude this intervention by repeating an interesting and relevant contribution from the famous British historian, writer and educationalist Dr. T.R. Batten.
He wrote: “The Fulani were at their most influential in Gobir. Then a dispute broke out between their Imam, Usman Dan Fodiyo and Sarkin Gobir Yunfa.The Fulani rallied behind their leader who encouraged them to defy their Hausa Chief. He began a jihad and fighting broke out. Thus the Fulani seized the country by force against the will of those who lived there. The enmity had nothing to do with religion for among those who fought (against the Fulani) were many Muslims. It was about the Fulani’s wish to seize power from the Hausas.”
It follows that the herdsman and those that they represent conquer by infiltration, assimilation and guile. Those that doubt this should find out what became of the ancient Hausa kingdoms.
They should also find out about the terrible fate that befell the famous Yoruba general, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the old Oyo empire, Afonja, at the hands of Abdulsalami, the son of his erstwhile “ally” and friend the Fulani Salih Janta (A.K.A Shehu Alimi).
After Afonja died, Abdulsalami killed his son and took over his throne in Ilorin.
Since that time a Fulani Emir, with a flag from the Sultan of Sokoto, has ruled Ilorin whilst the Yoruba descendants of Afonja have been denied the throne in a predominantly Yoruba town that was founded and established by Aare Afonja, their illustrious Yoruba forefather.
It is better to learn from the mistakes of history rather than to allow them to be repeated.

Written By Femi Fani-Kayode

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Suspected Fulani Herdsmen Kill Enugu Village Chief

Suspected Fulani herdsmen, Thursday, killed a member of the traditional rulers’ cabinet at Eke community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Tamgbo Ogueji. The 85-year-old was allegedly shot in his house in the early hours of the day.

According to the President-General, Eke Town Union, Anthony Enu, the community was irked and the youths restive.

“Last year, the same Fulani herdsmen killed two of our brothers, Matthew Aniugo and Chiagha Chigbo, in their farms. The town is boiling with anger now.

“We have reported the matter to the Police. We are calling on all relevant authorities to prevail on these Fulani herdsmen to ensure justice for our people.”

Enugu State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident.

We Did Not Endorse Jonathan For 2015 , Fulani Chiefs

Fulani Fulani chiefs under the aegis of Fulbe Lamibe Association of Nigeria, FLAN, have denied endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.

The group was reacting to a recent endorsement of President Jonathan by some “self-appointed Fulani leaders” for the 2015 presidential election.

FLAN, in a statement by its secretary, Hussaini Salisu Kachia, said the purported endorsement of Jonathan was not the position of Fulani nomads in Nigeria.

“We, the Fulani Council of Chiefs, totally and completely dissociate ourselves and the entire Fulani people from the statement made by some self-appointed Fulani leaders to the effect that Nigerian Fulanis have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election.
“This purported endorsement is not the position of Fulani nomads in Nigeria. The impression created or given is erroneous, and at best misleading”, the statement read.

The association added: “We have total confidence in former vice president Atiku Abubakar, not President Goodluck Jonathan, who they said is not constitutionally qualified to even contest”.