The Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria (CFPN) has urged Fulani pastoralists across the South-West to sustain their cooperation with security agencies and local authorities by exposing criminal elements operating within their host communities.
The call was made by the group’s convener, Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, in a statement issued on Tuesday, following recent remarks by Yoruba nation activist, , popularly known as Sunday Igboho, concerning security challenges in parts of Oyo State.
According to the group, Fulani pastoralists engaged in cattle rearing and other livestock-related activities should continue collaborating with government authorities and security agencies to promote peace and ensure the safety of communities where they reside and conduct their businesses.
The CFPN recalled that it had earlier appealed to President and Oyo State Governor to intervene over statements attributed to Sunday Igboho regarding insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly in the Ibarapa axis.
The group said it was concerned that criminal activities perpetrated by bandits, terrorists and kidnappers were being wrongly linked to peaceful Fulani residents and pastoralists living across the South-West.
However, CFPN welcomed Sunday’s recent clarification that he was not opposed to any ethnic or religious group and remained committed to advocating improved security in the region.
Describing the clarification as a positive development, Chubado said it would strengthen peaceful coexistence and discourage ethnic profiling.
“We sincerely thank our host Yoruba communities, especially those in the Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun zones of Oyo State, for their understanding as reflected in the recent statement by Sunday Igboho,” Chubado said.
He added that although Fulani pastoralists and their livestock were also victims of insecurity, the group remained committed to supporting efforts aimed at protecting lives and property across the South-West.
Chubado noted that Fulani pastoralists had consistently provided useful information to security agencies, leading to the arrest and prosecution of kidnappers and other criminal elements.
He also stated that disputes between herders and farmers, particularly those arising from livestock straying into farmlands, were often resolved through dialogue and existing conflict-resolution mechanisms.
The CFPN further appealed to government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups to guarantee the safety and protection of Fulani pastoralists, stressing that they too suffer from banditry, terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks.
The group emphasised that criminality should not be associated with any ethnic or religious identity, insisting that individuals should be judged based on their actions rather than their background.
“Whether Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Christian or Muslim, criminality has no ethnic or religious identity,” Chubado said.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and constructive engagement with communities across the South-West and the country at large, while calling on all Nigerians to unite in support of efforts to tackle insecurity.
