The leadership of Fulani communities in South-West Nigeria has strongly refuted any connection between the ethnic group and recent kidnapping cases in Ogun State. In a statement released on Sunday, the Council of Fulani Chiefs in the South-West expressed concern over attempts to generalize criminal acts to the entire Fulani population.
Council's Stance on Criminal Allegations
Alhaji Mohammed Bambado II, Chairman of the council and Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, emphasized the group's commitment to peace and lawful coexistence. He stated that the Fulani community has no ties with individuals accused of kidnapping or other crimes, and that they are equally affected by insecurity.
Call for Individual Justice
The council insisted that allegations against suspects under investigation should be treated as individual cases, not as a basis for judging an entire ethnic group. They reiterated condemnation of kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery as threats to community safety.
Bambado urged security agencies to conduct thorough investigations without bias and called on residents to provide credible information to help combat crime. The council also appealed to the media and public to avoid narratives that could fuel ethnic tensions, noting decades of peaceful coexistence in the region.
Reaffirming support for security efforts, the Fulani leadership pledged to encourage cooperation with authorities and contribute to regional peace. The statement concluded with a commitment to promoting unity, lawful conduct, and mutual understanding among all ethnic groups in the South-West.
