A prominent Fulani youth leader in Plateau State, Hamisu Garba, has strongly asserted that attempts to intimidate or expel Fulani people from the state will fail, emphasizing their constitutional right to belong.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Garba said he and many Fulani residents were born and raised in Plateau and, by law, are bona fide citizens of the state.
“I, like many other Fulani people, am also part of Plateau State. Attempts to intimidate, frustrate, and chase us out will not work,” he said.
Garba expressed concern over what he described as growing hostility and profiling against Fulani communities in the state, despite their deep-rooted presence in Plateau for generations.
“I was born in Plateau. My parents and siblings were born and raised here. I attended primary, secondary, and university here. I even have an indigene form signed by my district head and local government chairman. This is the only home I know,” he stated.
According to him, while he acknowledges that some criminal elements exist within the Fulani community, it is wrong to generalize or portray all Fulani as perpetrators of violence.
“Yes, some herders have caused problems, but that does not mean all of us are criminals. Every tribe has its own criminal elements,” Garba said. “There are Mwaghavul, Berom, Tarok, Ngas, Irigwe, and Mupun criminals as well. Yet, the focus is always on Fulani.”
He also alleged that some of the violent attacks in Plateau are not exclusively carried out by Fulani, noting that investigations have revealed the involvement of some local collaborators.
“Some natives are paid as little as N20,000 to provide intelligence on their own communities. Are they Fulani too?” he asked.
Garba recalled a time when peaceful coexistence prevailed across communities, with inter-tribal marriages, shared celebrations, and mutual respect. He lamented that the growing tensions have disrupted that harmony.
“We used to play football together, celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Sallah together. I don’t know when things changed and why the Fulani became targets,” he said.
The youth leader reaffirmed his commitment to promoting peace, saying Fulani youth leaders are working to educate their communities on peaceful living and cooperation with other ethnic groups.
“We are not at war with anyone. We just want to be left alone and not unfairly labeled or targeted,” he added.
Garba called on other ethnic groups to join efforts in promoting unity, rather than engaging in what he described as systematic demonization of the Fulani.
Comments