Fulani women in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, under the aegis of Reube Fulbe Global Rights and Development Initiative have lamented the effect of mistaken identity on their men, agonising that their men are being labelled terrorists and bandits and targeted for killing or arrest.
President of Reube Fulbe Global Rights and Development Initiative, Halima Usman Yoman, regretted at the latest instance at Kakura community in Kaduna State, vigilantes and soldiers allegedly brutalised Fulanis after classifying them as terrorists and bandits or their sympathizers.
Yoman noted that such labeling has made it difficult for Fulani men to move and associate with other people in and around the country.
According to the President of the Fulani group, “we know that in every society, we have bad people, but why is it that, is the Fulanis that are at the receiving end, we know that all the tribes in Nigeria, some people are armed robbers, some people are thieves, some people are whatever we call them, but they have never said this tribe is bandits or they are rustlers, why is it that is Fulanis that are at the receiving end?
“So, we are crying out, are we Nigerians? We want to know. If we are Nigerians, Government should come to our help so that we can have a free movement like other Nigerians in this country.”
She also claimed that many cows belonging to Fulanis were rustled in Kachia and Kagarko grazing reserves in Kaduna State.
Yoman said while the present location of the cows was known to them, they will require help from security agencies to get them back.