Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has appealed to the leaders of the Fulani community in Nasarawa State to use their internal vigilante, to fish out criminal elements among them giving the Fulani community a bad name in the state.
Governor Sule made the appeal on Wednesday, when he met with Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, National President, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani Socio-cultural Association, at his residence in Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area.
The Governor said, with the cases of insecurity, where fingers are always pointing at the Fulanis, it has become necessary for him to interface with the leadership of the Fulani community in the state, with a view to seeking their support towards tackling insecurity across the state and country at large.
He pointed out that following information received from the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), where armed gunmen killed one student and kidnapped another last Monday night, it has become necessary to call on the Fulani community to deploy its internal vigilante group to fish out criminal elements giving the community a bad name.
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Governor Sule however, commended the peaceful nature of the Fulani community in the state, but blamed the criminal tendency on strangers invading the state to commit crime.
“Every time there is kidnapping, the incidence is mostly blamed on Fulani. That is why I deemed it necessary to stop here and speak to Fulani leaders on the need to ensure strangers do not come into our state to perpetrate criminal activities.
“The Fulani community in Nasarawa State is peace-loving, as such we should do everything possible to ensure that strange elements do not come into our state to carry out criminal activities. It’s on record that the Fulani community operates a vigilante group that is assisting the government in the area of peace and security,” he said.
The governor called on the Fulani leaders to use the vigilante to fish out criminal elements hiding under the cover of the Fulani to commit crimes.
Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, national president, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, in his response said, the Fulani community coexisting peacefully with the diverse ethnic groups in the state.
“Everywhere we are, we always put into consideration the welfare and security of our neighbours. We coexist peacefully with diverse ethnic groups.
“We have our leadership structure cutting across districts, local government, and state geared towards peaceful coexistence,” he said.
Bodejo used the opportunity of the visit to appeal to the Governor to create a parking lot for vehicles at the Maliya Cattle Market, in order to decongest the busy Abuja expressway. He expressed willingness to donate a land to serve the purpose.
