Inauguration of Fulani Vigilante Group: Leader of Miyetti Allah And His Promoters Should Be Treated Same As Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Rabiu Omaku

…..we opposed the setting up of any suspicious security agency that is not community-based to avoid a situation where they could be used as militias

10 ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa State have called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency treat the leader of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Bello Bodejo for inaugurating the Fulani Vigilante group be treated as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The Presidents of ten ethnic nationalities comprises of Bassa, Migili, Nyankpa, Arum, Alago, Agatu, Akye, Nimzo, and Eggon respectively appealed to the F.G to give him the same treatment as that of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was behind bars over an allegation of promoting terrorism in the country.

The spoke person of the ethnic nationalities, Comrade Silas Dauda Yekini gave the hint during a press conference held at the Nasarawa State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

“If Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Is behind bars for allegedly promoting terrorism then Alhajin Bello Bodejo deserves the same treatment as his promoters especially as can be easily traced to a certificate of registration of a private Liability Company by shares of the so-called Meyitti Vigilante Group sometimes in January 2024 to cover up their sinister intentions”.

The group affirmed that over 90 percent of crimes and criminalities committed in Nasarawa State especially issues of kidnapping were mostly orchestrated by Fulani, the group also confirmed that the majority of kidnappers at the Lafia Correctional centres in the State are pastoral nomads.

The forum of ethnic nationalities President averred that the majority of those inaugurated are mostly migrants with uniforms from non-existent communities of Nasarawa State.

“As of today, several communities are cutting across the 13 Local Governments and three senatorial zones that have been wiped off from the map of Nasarawa State as the inhabitants have either been killed in skirmishes while survivors are displaced and their houses and historical relics flattened with quite a relaxed efforts towards resettlement by the State or Federal Government.

Aside from open violence attacks on communities, There have been incidences of outright destruction of crops on farms, As well as the menace of night grazing on people’s crops to avoid arrest or identification, This is some of the challenges farmers experience in Nasarawa State at the moment.

“We have cooperated with the State Government over the years in seeking permanent solutions to the problems but it keeps getting worse, the peace and Security Committee set up by the State Government could not live up to its objectives as Fulani members deemed it as an avenue to protect the interest of their kinsmen instead of the interest of Justice, It appears as if the invaders are being emboldened to unleash more harm on the Indigenous people of the State.

The group called on the attention of the State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule to take decisive action on issues relating to land grabbing especially in rural areas and villages, leading to untold hardship with unabated attacks in their farms.

“Also, those displaced persons suffer a setback while attempting to return to their abode, after their displacement, the quantum of such people were killed or injured by Fulani who mostly is occupying farms and communities displaced”.

The President of forum ethnic nationalities affirmed that Fulani people are slowly taking over communities, as he described the development as a security threat to the State, Comrade Silas maintained that migrants Fulani are supported by some greedy monarchs who sold or sold land to herders.

‘We wish to bring it to the attention of His Excellency that there is an Ongoing continuous crisis and land grabbing in Nasarawa state especially in the rural areas as villagers have continued to suffer attacks, especially in their farms, leading to loss of lives and body parts. Those who attempted to return to their hitherto deserted communities after their initial displacement met their untimely death or met new occupants of their relics and the new Occupants in the rural areas have been mainly from the Fulani extraction.

As we speak, more and more of these people are moving into our rural communities daily and we see it as a serious security risk.

The most unfortunate remark on this is that some of these migrants are supported by greedy traditional rulers of some communities who sell land including settlement irrespective of any resistance by their original owners.

Our prayers include A commission of inquiry set by the Federal and State Governments to look into the security loopholes in Nasarawa State.

The ethnic nationalities forum wants an immediate directive to our security operatives in collaboration with the Vigilante group of Nigeria as established in various Local Governments and communities to comb our communities especially the ones mentioned above and fish out the alien migrants most of whom do not even possess the national identity card or criminality acquired same through a compromised process.

We want the strengthening of our security agencies with gadgets and capabilities for better intelligence gathering and response

We opposed the setting up of any suspicious security agency that is not community-based to avoid a situation where they could be used as militias calling for the immediate proscription of the Bodejo Vigilante Group in Nasarawa State.

Calling for the redeployment of all the heads of security who attended the launching of the Miyetti Allah Vigilante Group especially the Commissioner of Police of Nasarawa State who was conspicuously seen flagging Alhaji Bodejo at the occasion.