Sultan of Sokoto lashes out at those blaming Fulani herdsmen for every armed attack

SULTAN of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has lashed out at Nigerians for blaming Fulani cattle herdsmen for every single armed attack that happens in the country saying it is unfair to do so.

 

Of late, armed Fulani herdsmen have been involved in numerous bloody battles with local farming communities across the country, leaving hundreds dead. Some analysts believe that the remnants of Boko Haram may have even infiltrated the herdsmen and have been the one providing them with AK47 assault rifles.

 

Alhaji Abubakar, who is the ethnic leader of all Nigeria's Fulani's and the spiritual head of the country's Muslims, has said blaming the herdsmen for every armed attack in the country is politicising the matter.  Speaking during a dinner organised for religious leaders, security agencies and media practitioners in his palace in Sokoto, the monarch wondered why people blame Fulani herdsmen for every attack in the country.

 

“If criminals are doing bad things, they are criminals and they can be found anywhere in any religion and tribe, therefore don’t add religious or tribal toga to any act of terrorism. Fulani men are only after their cattle not after any government or its policies and programmes, so how can they carry weapons, to go and do what with it?”

 

 “When there is a vacant position and a Hausa man is appointed, we called it northernisation and when a Muslim leader visits an Islamic country we say he is trying to Islamise Nigeria. In fact, there are many people from other religion and tribes occupying other offices and we witness many Christian leaders who have visited Christian countries but nobody said they were planning to Christianise the country,” Alhaji Abubakar added.

 

Pointing out that Nigeria is a beautiful country and its people love one another, the sultan blamed the elite for some of the challenges bedevilling the country. He  advised leaders, particularly elites to desist from inciting innocent people against their neighbours.

 

Sultan Abubakar urged Nigerians to pray fervently for peace, unity, prosperity and for the leaders to be guided right in discharging their mandate. He also challenged the political leadership to ensure justice for all, saying without justice, no society would survive.