Moses Ofodeme
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has pleaded with herdsmen who go on arms to drop them as the country battles security challenges on different fronts.
Mohammed made the appeal on Wednesday, February 24; during the official launch of the 2021 Annual Livestock Vaccination Campaign at Galambi cattle ranch in the state.
He assured all innocent farmers, herders and people of the state that their wellbeing will remain a priority of his government; while efforts are being made to reduce the farmer-herder clashes.
“I will do everything to protect you and support you because, through time and history; you seem to have been lampooned, subjected to caricature, but you remain humane, simple, you don’t show so much aggression and of course, that humility, is always what we recognize,” Governor Mohammed said.
He also promised to continue to be a voice for the innocent Fulani herdsmen while advising them to conduct themselves peacefully and identify the miscreants among them for punitive measures.
Governor Mohammed said he has no apology for speaking up against ethnic profiling of Fulani Herdsmen.
He, however, assured Nigerians that his previous comments were not intended to generate controversies and escalate tension.
Recall that few weeks ago that the Governor defended the herdmen who carry arms; stating that they only do so as a means of self-defence because they are being attacked and killed by cattle rustlers.
“The Fulani man is practicing the tradition of trans-human, pastoralism, he has been exposed to the battery of the forests; the animals, and now, the cattle rustlers, who carry guns, kill him and take away his commonwealth; that is his cows – he had no option than to carry Ak-47 because the society and the government are not protecting him.
“It is not his fault, it is the fault of the government and the people; you don’t criminalise all of them because in every tribe there are criminals. You should be very sensitive. We have to be careful,” Governor Mohammed had said.
Last Friday, he however, clarified the statement; explaining that he only used ‘AK-47’ as a figure of speech.
