Niger State Governor Umar Mohammed Bago has urged Fulani community leaders to prevail on youths involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities to abandon crime, warning that continued attacks are fueling public anger and distrust toward the community.
Governor Umar Bago has appealed to Fulani leaders in Niger State to work with security agencies in tackling insecurity, saying victims of kidnapping often accuse Fulani criminals after regaining their freedom.
Speaking in Hausa during a meeting with traditional and community leaders, Bago urged Fulani elders to call their children involved in criminal activities out of the forests and encourage them to embrace peaceful living.
‘People Keep Pointing Fingers at Fulanis’
The governor said insecurity has created widespread resentment because many victims who regain their freedom after paying ransom frequently identify their abductors as Fulani.
According to Bago:
“Whoever gets kidnapped in the bush and is later released will say it was Fulanis who kidnapped him. So, you should warn your children who are in the bush to return so that we can live peacefully.”
He stressed that innocent members of the Fulani community continue to suffer the consequences of the actions of criminal elements.
Calls for Community Cooperation
Bago urged Fulani leaders to stop shielding criminals and instead cooperate with security agencies by exposing those involved in kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.
He maintained that peaceful Fulani families should distance themselves from criminal gangs to restore public confidence and improve security across the state.
Appeal to Farmers and Vigilantes
Beyond the issue of kidnapping, the governor also warned farmers against cultivating crops along government road corridors, saying such practices often contribute to conflicts between farmers and herders.
He equally cautioned vigilante groups against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to work within established security frameworks.