An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has claimed the crimes committed against Fulani herdsmen is the major factor fueling banditry in Nigeria.
Recall Gumi had earlier chastised the federal government for proscribing banditry and declaring bandit groups as terrorists. Read more.
Tackling the FG’s decision, Gumi had said; “
“It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists.
“It’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground”.
Gumi however explained; “An innocent Fulani man can be apprehended on suspicion and he will lose his cattle, the same way an innocent man will be kidnapped by bandits and he will lose his possession.
“So all the people holding guns are now liable to exploit and extort people, either on the government side or the…
“In fact, they are justifying what they are doing from the experience of their own people at the hands of the rogue security agents.
“I don’t say all the security are like that but from the rogue ones we have and with that experience they said ‘okay we are revenging’ and that is why they don’t have any remorse for committing any of these crimes.
“You don’t know the crimes committed against them, even genocide was committed against the Fulani’s herdsmen.“
