The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Baba Othman Ngelzarma, has said Fulanis are themselves, not isolated from the challenges facing the country. He said like everyone else, Fulani are also affected by insecurity, poverty, and many other issues troubling the country.
Ngelzarma who stated this in an interview with Saturday Sun, said most of the Fulani engaging in criminal activities in the country, are largely victims of circumstances. He said the level of extreme poverty, misfortunes, and other issues, is responsible for the misbehavior of those engaging in crimes.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had disclosed that most of those arrested for kidnappings in the country, are Fulani. But noted that the few arrested criminals does not mean all Fulanis are criminals.
"Seven to eight kidnappers arrested are Fulanis, but that doesn’t mean every Fulani is a criminal, no they are not," he said in a comment during a recent meeting of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN).
“I am a Fulani, and I am not a bad man. I am also not a criminal. Those engaged in one forms of crimes or another are across the country. It is not proper to refer to any tribe to describe individuals' crime, m" he added.
Ngelzarma who also acknowledged the involvement of some Fulani in criminal activities in the country, said those involved were exploited because of their level of poverty among other challenges.
"We have lost over three million cows as result of cattle rustling. This has made so many families to become poor and because their children are poor, with no education, ignorance, prevalence of drought and proliferation of arms, so they become easy prey for initiation into crimes.
"That is the reason whenever you catch them, if you interview them, they will tell you that N5 million was collected as ransom, but they were given N20, 000 or N50, 000 out of the money. That goes to show you that there are some big guys behind the whole thing. That goes to show you that the ignorance, the poverty level of these youths is being exploited. That is why most of them have become criminals because of idleness, lack and maybe, arms have become very easy to get," he said.