Worried by reports of ejections and threats of attacks against Fulani herders by their host communities in some parts of the South, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has asked the Fulani Herdsmen in hostile areas to relocate to the north. 

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday.

The NEF called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other State Governors to protect the "law-abiding members of Fulani communities from killers and criminals who apparently believe that Fulani have no rights in Nigeria" while warning that the country would be treading a dangerous path if it continues to allow the demonization of entire tribes over particular crimes. 

Fulani herdsmen were recently evicted from Ibarapa in Oyo State and the house of the Seriki Fulani burned by their host community who accused them of being responsible for kidnappings and other nefarious activities in the area.

Some hoodlums believed to be linked to the proscribed IPOB militia also attacked herders in the early hours of Monday, February 1 in Bende Forest, Abia State.

 Videos showed the hoodlums slaughter their cows and raze their homes. 

READ ALSO: CATTLE SLAUGHTERED, HOMES RAZED AS HOODLUMS ATTACK FULANI COMMUNITY IN BENDE FOREST, ABIA

Below are excerpts from the statement written by the NEF: 

“NEF is deeply worried by reports of ejections, under threats and attacks, of Fulani herders, families and communities in some states of the south. The forum has been receiving these reports since the night of Sunday, January 31, and has taken the responsible step by drawing the attention of authorities to the dangers, which these attacks represent for all Nigerians.

“We have also advised law-abiding Fulani communities to seek protection where it is available, and have appealed to other Fulani to resist temptation to take the law into their own hands.

“It is necessary to warn people who threaten law-abiding Fulani communities in all parts of Nigeria, but particularly in some parts of the South, to desist. Majority of Fulani are law-abiding and have rights to live lawfully wherever they can find means of subsistence.

READ ALSO: SUNDAY IGBOHO VISITS OJA-ODAN, IN OGUN STATE TO CHASE OUT FULANI HERDSMEN

“The Fulani will not be ejected from any Nigerian community only on the basis of being Fulani or herding cattle within the limits of laws and regulations. States that seek to limit criminal activities are perfectly entitled to do so, but they must follow due process, and avoid exposing innocent citizens to danger at all cost. The forum demands that the Nigeria Police must live up to its constitutional responsibility to detect crimes and arrest and prosecute criminals, whoever they are.”

The elders appealed to Nigerians to exercise restraint and not play into hands of people who desire to achieve dubious political goals by pitting citizens against each other.

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