Watching a video of some Ndigbo individuals shooting Fulani cattle and boldly declaring their desire to remove Fulani people from their land is one of the reasons I can’t tolerate anyone labeling Fulani as terrorists in Nigeria. According to the 1999 Constitution, Nigeria belongs to everyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or regional differences. The fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution include the right to live, conduct business, and practice religion anywhere in the country. Why are Fulani people denied these constitutional rights? Why are they subjected to restrictions on their movement?
While some Fulani individuals may be involved in instances of escalating violence, the treatment they receive from other tribes, security agents, and relevant authorities is markedly different from how other groups are treated. Are they not Nigerians? Are they not human beings? Many Fulani involved in criminal activities are often victims of circumstance; they are defending themselves and their property, yet they are treated as second-class citizens. This discrimination can ignite conflicts between them and other tribes across the country.
The actions of certain unscrupulous Ndigbo individuals who shot Fulani cattle and expressed their desire to remove Fulani people from their land raise a critical question: Do they even own the land? When did Nigeria’s constitution, which upholds the rights I mentioned earlier, become invalid? Honestly, no compassionate person would stand by idly while others destroy their means of livelihood without taking action.
These are among the reasons some Fulani people may raid villages at night in retaliation. The government and relevant authorities have failed to act against those who abuse Fulani individuals and their cattle, deny them their constitutional rights, or believe they can claim ownership of specific lands. If the government had addressed these barbaric actions, peace might have prevailed in Nigeria.
It is also important to acknowledge that some irresponsible Fulani herders contribute to the cycle of violence by allowing their cattle to damage people’s farms. However, I believe that the denial of their constitutional rights is a far more significant issue than the damage caused by cattle straying onto farms. Security agents must address this appropriately.
If we genuinely want peace in Nigeria, the government and its authorities must act decisively and fairly, without prejudice. Anyone involved in inciting violence must face the full consequences of the law, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or regional background. Blaming only one segment of the community (the Fulani) for the country’s problems will not solve the issue.
Now that some Igbo individuals have killed Fulani cattle, neither the government nor its relevant authorities have condemned the act; everyone seems to have remained silent as if nothing happened. However, if the Fulani were to retaliate by raiding their town, the same government and authorities would label them as terrorists.
Today, when Fulani people are harmed, the silence is deafening, but as soon as they take action, the entire community condemns them and labels them