Bagudu: Fulani are major victims of kidnapping — we don’t hear their stories
Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi, says Fulani indigenes are the major victims of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the country.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Bagudu said people don’t usually hear about the experiences of the Fulani who are abducted, or have their cattle stolen.
Over the past few years, Fulani herdsmen have been accused of being involved in attacks leading to abductions — a development that has created ethnic tension — but the Fulani have repeatedly denied masterminding such attacks.
The Kebbi governor said most Nigerians do not hear the side of the Fulanis, before attributing violent crimes to them, adding that many Fulani people are decent and peaceful residents who just want to make a living.
“I have met with many Fulani communities in my state, who explained that they are also victims. They are the first victims of kidnapping and castle rustling,” he said.
“It is easier for a drunk child, someone who is abusing drugs, to go to the community where there is no road, no police, no infrastructure to kidnap his cousin or sister and demand for cattle to be sold, for him to be given money.
“They are the major victims of kidnapping and then the wider kidnapping that is conducted by other Fulanis and non-Fulanis, who have come to form criminal gangs.
“Equally, cattle rustling is an activity that is against people who move cattle or who own cattle. A lot of Fulani are naturally victims and they are pauperised by it.
“We don’t even hear their stories. We don’t hear their side. We just think they are complicit. They are not. Majority of them are peaceful and decent people, seeking to make a living.”
Unfortunately and sadly nothing will happen to those that have turned the NDDC to their piggy bag; most senators past and present are beneficiaries of this loot the off your mic gang. I am looking forward to the response of the Niger delta militant and Pandef (Edwin Clark) to this report; they have kept relatively quiet since this audit but are quick to accuse the North and President of stealing the oil of the Niger delta and neglect of the region. They are quick to call for restructuring and resource control and like i have always told those who care to listen the militant and so called elders are only interested in their pocket and it does not matter where the President comes from what we need a leader in the mood of President Paul kagame of Rwanda a leader with vision and care of its people not this brood of vipers scrambling for the resources of the country