Over recent months, Fulani herdsmen have been involved in numerous clashes with farming communities across the country resulting in hundreds of deaths. As a result, there have been calls for the nomadic activities of the Fulanis to be curbed and several states plan to introduce laws that will confine them to ranches.
However, Professor Abdullahi said the Nigerian constitution gives the Fulani herdsmen the right to go about their business all across the country. Speaking in Bauchi, the former vice chancellor described herdsmen as businessmen who like other people cannot be denied access to the resources they need.
Professor Abdullahi added: “If for any reason, somebody in one section of this country will deny him access then we have to take measures to response to that. If a herdsman encroaches on a farmland and some crops get damaged an assessment is made and they pay, so why all the petty attitude?
“I see what is happening today as a new dimension to political and ethnic cleansing that if not carefully handled may lead to other big things. The herdsman is a Nigerian and his rights must be exercised as a Nigerian as he has free movement like everybody else to pursue legitimate business and he cannot be denied access to any part of the country."
According to Professor Abdullahi, his Fulani ancestors were in the bush but later found reasons to settle in one place. He added that he owns cows and anytime they cause damage he pays compensation and so that is the way it will be.
“The Fulani man is a Nigerian who works freely to access legitimate economic resources of this country like land, which is a common thing for all Nigerians. In fact, what really amazes me is there is no Nigerian I know that works as hard as a herdsman who sleeps on the branches of trees he has no permanent abode, he toils day and night with his animals,” Professor Abdullahi added.
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