Hausa, Fulani Not Behind Killings In Nigeria – Norther Leaders Cry Out

Some eminent northerner scholars, statesmen and professionals have kicked against accusing Fulanis and Hausa of been behind insecurity rocking the nation.

In a statement Bashir Tofa, the northern leaders said criminality shouldn’t be attached to only one particular ethnic group.

“The on-going profiling of the Fulani and the Hausa as the causal factors of the current challenges facing the country must be condemned by all. The words and action of certain individuals and a section of the media reducing criminality to a particular ethnic group is a serious threat to national cohesion,” the statement read.

“In spite of the current propaganda, emerging evidence is clearly showing that kidnapping and banditry is neither restricted to one particular ethnic group or one region in Nigeria. Ritual k!llings, armed robbery and kidnappings for ransom have become an equal opportunity activity for all sections of the country and as they are being arrested and prosecuted around the country, the profiling of groups is limited to northerners.

“While we commend attempts by some national leaders to douse rising tensions, the silence of the federal government whose constitutional role it is to protect lives and property, is worrisome.

“We are concerned that the criminalization and the negative profiling of an ethnic group as bandits and kidnappers by both the conventional and social media has now taken a dangerous dimension. Incendiary speeches criminalizing the Fulani by some political and religious leaders and inciting articles by a section of the Nigerian press, has assumed dangerous dimensions.

“They have radicalized and transformed their youths not only into eviction mobs but also into k!lling machines. Quit notices and violent attacks by irate youths upon the expiry of eviction dates have become common.”

The group said history has shown that ethnic and religious profiling have grave consequences for the stability of a nation.

The northern leaders added that the solution to violence and criminality is to prosecute the persons involved not to rope in their entire community.

The other signatories are: Fatimah Balla, Sule Yahaya Hamma, Hubert Shaiyen, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, Bilya Bala, Usman Bugaje, Jibrin Ibrahim and Sani Zorro.

Others are Naibaida, Mustapha Gwadabe, Idris’s Sha’aban Jimada, Omar Massoud, Abdulkadir Adamu, Kabir Danladi, Isa Modibbo, Hassan Hussaini, Murtala Abubakar, Aminu Musa, Muhammad Kabir Abubakar, Nasir Mohammed Abubakar and Sunny S. Moniedafe.

Source: Naija News