Governor of Niger State, Umaru Mohammed Bago has called on the Fulani community to cooperate with security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
He condemned the failure of residents to report the presence of armed strangers in Fulani communities, warning that the activities of criminals were tarnishing the image of the community.
It was gathered that Bago made the statement while addressing members of the community in Minna.
The governor said, “Anybody that is kidnapped and released will say it is the Fulani that abducted them. Because of this there is no way people will not begin to resent you, advise your brothers who are in the forests to return and live peacefully within society, your brothers are killing people, yet no one has stopped you from grazing your cattle, farming or living in peace. But your brother has been out doing terrible things to innocent people. If they are not found, then you will be held responsible. ”You see Fulani carrying guns but you don’t tell the security agencies that these people are not our relatives and they have come to make trouble. We have lived with each other for many years and this is not right. It must end.”
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The governor also appealed to Islamic clerics who are publicly disagreeing to exercise restraint and avoid sermons that can incite tension or violence.
He warned that the Niger State government would not hesitate to take decisive action against any place of worship found propagating inflammatory sermons.
“If this does not stop, the government will close down any mosque that is found to be delivering sermons that incite the public,” he said.
The governor said the measures are aimed at strengthening security and preserving peaceful coexistence among all communities in the state.