A prominent Fulani youth leader in Plateau State, Hamisu Garba, has strongly condemned what he described as sustained efforts to intimidate and expel Fulani people from the state, insisting such attempts will not succeed.
In a recent interraction with journalists, Garba said he and many Fulani were born and raised in Plateau and have no other place to call home.
He cited the Nigerian Constitution to back his position, stating that anyone born in a state and holding valid documents is considered a bona fide indigene.
“I, like many other Fulani people, are also part of Plateau State and efforts, or should I say attempts, to intimidate, frustrate and chase us out of Plateau will not work,” he declared in an interview with Daily Post.
Garba narrated his personal history to support his claim of indigeneship.
He said, “I was born in Plateau State. I have my indigene form duly signed by both my district head and local government chairman. My parents and all my siblings were also born and raised here.
“I attended primary, secondary and university here. The only time I left the state was during my NYSC in Enugu.”
He argued that calls for Fulani residents to leave Plateau are unjust and unconstitutional, questioning where they were expected to relocate to.
We Reject Ethnic Profiling – Garba
The youth leader condemned the blanket profiling of Fulani as criminals, insisting that criminality exists across all ethnic lines in Plateau.
“There are Mwaghavul criminals; there are Berom criminals; there are Tarok criminals; there are Ngas, Irigwe, Mupun and Fulani criminals. But it’s only the Fulani that people are quick to demonize,” Garba noted.
“We agree that there are herders who cause problems, but not all Fulani are criminals.”
Garba alleged that some native collaborators work with criminal gangs and are sometimes paid as little as ₦20,000 to provide information about their communities.
He said, “It will interest you to know that some natives are part of the attacks. Our investigations show that they are recruited too.”
Recalling peaceful years growing up in Plateau, Garba said Fulani and other ethnic groups had long coexisted harmoniously, sharing holidays, festivities, and even intermarriages.
“I grew up rearing cattle, playing football with neighbours, visiting them during Christmas and Easter. They came to celebrate Sallah with us too,” he said.
He questioned how the situation deteriorated to a point where Fulani communities are now being targeted.
Garba said, “I don’t know when the battle line was drawn, but suddenly we became an endangered species that must be chased out. But let me be clear, no one can chase us out of Plateau State.”
He emphasised the efforts by Fulani youth leaders to preach peace within their communities and urged other ethnic groups to adopt similar measures rather than directing all blame at the Fulani.
“We just want to be left alone. We’re also Nigerians and Plateau citizens. We must stop this dangerous narrative that blames every insecurity issue on Fulani people,” Garba concluded.