Fulani Group Challenges US Claims on Nigeria’s Security Crisis

• A Fulani socio-cultural group has urged international observers to avoid portraying the Fulani ethnic group as the sole source of insecurity in Nigeria.

The Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria has called on international actors, particularly the United States, to avoid portraying the Fulani ethnic group as the primary source of insecurity in Nigeria.

The group made the appeal in a statement signed by its representative, Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, while reacting to recent reports linking Fulani communities to violence and insecurity across parts of the country.

According to the group, broad generalisations and ethnic profiling could worsen tensions and undermine efforts aimed at addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

The organisation questioned what it described as inconsistencies in international assessments of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly reports highlighting alleged Fulani militancy.

It noted that previous analyses had cautioned against ethnic profiling and warned that assigning blame to an entire ethnic group could inflame communal tensions.

The group argued that insecurity in Nigeria involves multiple actors and cannot be attributed solely to one ethnic or religious community.

It also recalled that during previous administrations, public debates around insecurity often focused heavily on Fulani identity, resulting in hostility toward innocent Fulani communities in several parts of the country.

According to the statement, such narratives contributed to attacks on settlements, destruction of property and loss of livestock belonging to Fulani families.

The group further maintained that conflicts involving herders and farmers have often been oversimplified, despite experts identifying factors such as land disputes, environmental pressures, grazing routes and local political issues as major drivers of the crisis.

It cited recurring tensions in states such as Benue, Plateau and Taraba, stressing that many Fulani families have lived in those communities for generations.

The organisation also referenced previous criminal incidents where initial accusations against Fulani communities were later disputed by security investigations.

Among the examples cited was the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which the group said was initially linked to Fulani herders before subsequent investigations pointed elsewhere.

The group expressed concern over reports attributed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which allegedly claimed that approximately 30,000 armed Fulani militants were responsible for insecurity in Nigeria.

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It described such claims as unfair stereotyping and warned that they could worsen ethnic relations.

According to the group, challenges such as terrorism, banditry, separatist violence, kidnapping and communal clashes involve different actors across various regions of the country.

The organisation called for balanced reporting, evidence-based analysis and greater caution in discussions surrounding insecurity.

It also urged Nigerian authorities and international partners to promote justice, fairness and national unity while addressing the country’s security challenges.

“Nigeria’s future cannot be built on ethnic scapegoating, mutual suspicion or divisive narratives,” the statement added.