Pastoralists seek Tinubu’s intervention over killings, demand national dialogue

The Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to initiate a national dialogue and reconciliation process to address farmer-herder conflicts, alleging that hundreds of pastoralists have been killed in attacks across several states without adequate government intervention.

The association, operating under the Confederation of Pastoralist NGOs (CONPA), also called for independent investigations into the alleged killings, protection for pastoralist communities and an end to ethnic profiling, warning that stereotyping Fulani herders as criminals threatens the lives of innocent people.

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The association made the demands on Sunday in Abuja at a press conference addressed by its General Secretary, Abdullahi Ardo, on behalf of its President, Dr Huseini Buzaye.

Ardo, who spoke on behalf of more than 30 pastoralist associations representing millions of herders across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, said the continued portrayal of pastoralists as criminals had exposed innocent members of the community to discrimination and violence.

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“For too long, the word ‘Fulani Pastoralist’ has been profiled and criminalized as synonymous with banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism,” Ardo said.

“Criminals are criminals and have no tribe. We call on security agencies and the media to stop ethnic profiling but arrest and prosecute criminals as individuals, not as an ethnic group. An entire community cannot be punished for the sins of a few.”

The association alleged that hundreds of pastoralists, including women, children and elderly people, had been killed in attacks in Plateau, Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and other parts of the country in recent months.

It also claimed that thousands of cattle had been rustled or killed and entire pastoralist settlements, commonly known as Rugas, burnt down during the attacks.

“These killings are not reported. There is no national outrage. There is no compensation. There is no justice,” Ardo lamented.

To address the situation, the association called for independent investigations into the alleged killings and urged the Federal Government to direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to provide relief materials to affected and displaced pastoralists.

It also urged security agencies to protect pastoralists, citing Sections 14 and 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which address the welfare and security of citizens and the right to life, respectively.

On the recurring farmer-herder conflicts, the association argued that military operations alone could not provide a lasting solution, citing its estimate that the violence had claimed more than 20,000 lives in 10 years.

It therefore urged Tinubu to make a presidential declaration on national dialogue and reconciliation, bringing together pastoralist groups, including Miyetti Allah, traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), security agencies and state governments.

According to the association, the dialogue should focus on truth, justice, forgiveness, compensation for victims and a practical roadmap for peaceful coexistence between farmers, herders and other communities.

The group also called for the full operationalisation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, expressing concern that the ministry remained inadequately funded and lacked a clear operational framework for effective implementation of its mandate at the grassroots.

While commending Tinubu for establishing the ministry, which it described as a significant step towards addressing longstanding concerns in the livestock sector, the association urged the President and the National Assembly to allocate at least 30 per cent of the national agricultural budget to it.

It further called for the gazetting and protection of 417 designated grazing reserves across the country, as well as the establishment of pilot ranches and fodder production facilities in the six geopolitical zones.

“Livestock is a ₦30 trillion economy. It cannot be treated with levity,” the association said.

However, the association acknowledged that pastoralist communities also had responsibilities in preventing conflict, urging their leaders and members to respect farmers’ property, prevent cattle from straying into cultivated farmlands and cooperate with security agencies in investigating criminal activities.

It also called on pastoralist communities to reject banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality, expose criminal elements within their ranks and encourage children and young people to pursue education, vocational training and productive employment.

“We are Nigerians. We are pastoralists. We are not bandits. We love this country. Our cattle feed this nation,” Ardo said.

The association announced plans to launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign across the six geopolitical zones to promote peaceful coexistence, responsible livestock management and cooperation between pastoralists and other communities.

It urged the Federal Government, state governments, traditional institutions, farmers’ associations and security agencies to work together towards lasting solutions to the conflicts.

The group said its goal was to promote “justice without discrimination, security without exclusion, development without marginalization, and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and the rule of law.”

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