Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago has urged the Fulani community to cooperate with the security agencies to fight insecurity.
He condemned the failure of residents to report the presence of armed strangers in Fulani communities, warning that the activities of criminals were tarnishing the image of the community.
It was gathered that Bago made the statement while addressing members of the community in Minna.
“Whoever gets kidnapped and released will say it is the Fulani that kidnapped them,” the governor said. It is because of this that there is no way people will not begin to resent you, tell your brothers who are in the forests to come back and live peacefully within the society, your brothers are killing people, yet no one has stopped you from grazing your cattle, farming or living in peace. But your brothers have been out committing terrible acts against innocent people. If these are not found then you will be held responsible.You see Fulani carrying guns but you don’t tell the security agencies that these people are not our relatives and they have come to make trouble. We have lived together for many years and this is not right. It has to end.”
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The governor also appealed to the Islamic clerics who are publicly dissenting to exercise restraint and not to deliver sermons that could incite tension or violence.
He warned that the Niger State government would not hesitate to take decisive action against any place of worship found propagating inflammatory sermons.
“If this is not stopped, the government will close down any mosque found to be delivering sermons inciting the public,” he said.
The governor said the measures are designed to enhance security and maintain peaceful co-existence among all the communities in the state.
