The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), an umbrella body of elders from 19 northern States of the Federation and FCT has told Fulani community in the Southern part of the country to return to the north.
The forum arrived at the decision as a result of eviction order being issued Fulani herders in the South, while they asked northerners to be ready to accommodate Fulanis that would return.
The decision was contained in a statement signed by the forum’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and made available to journalists in Abuja Wednesday.
The statement advised Fulani to seek protection in view of threats, attacks and name calling, noting that they should rather resist the temptation of taking laws into their hands.
The forum however warned those threatening attacks on Fulani communities living in the South West to desist.
“The vast majority of Fulani are law-abiding and have rights to live lawfully wherever they can find means of subsistence. Like all Nigerians who can be found in every inch of Nigeria, the rights of the Fulani will not be abridged by criminals hiding behind ethnic interests to exterminate them.
“Citizens and groups who play the role of police and other law-enforcement agencies are committing crimes, and they must be stopped by leaders who are sworn to protect the law and security of all Nigerians”, the statement said.
NEF, therefore, said “If communities in parts of the country insist that the lawful Fulani is unwelcome and has no right to their security, then the Forum will advise them to relocate to the North. Northern Governors should move urgently to prepare to receive Fulani communities being forcefully ejected.
The statement which is coming two weeks after the controversial eviction order was issued to Fulani herders in Ondo forests and Igangan, in Oyo State, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to protect law-abiding members of Fulani communities from those who believe that Fulani has no rights in Nigeria.
“The Forum demands that the Nigeria Police must live up to its constitutional responsibility to detect crimes and arrest and prosecute criminals, whoever they are.
“States which 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,” the statement noted.
“The Forum appeals again for all Nigerians to exercise restraint and not to play into the hands of people who desire to achieve dubious political goals by pitching citizens against each other. Persons who inflame passions by circulating videos and other materials should also desist,” the statement added.
