Nigeria is treading dangerous grounds if the federal government continues to tolerate demonisation of entire groups over particular types of crimes, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said.
In a statement by the NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the elders said it was deeply worried by reports of ejections, under threats and attacks of Fulani herders, families and communities in some southern states.
“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,” the forum said.
“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.”
It urged herdsmen to return to the northern region if their security could not be guaranteed in their host communities in the southern part of the country.
