A renown Islamic Scholar, Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has emphasized that Fulani herdsmen are not responsible for the spate of killings in some parts of the country, adding that the killings have nothing to do with any religious colourations.
Fielding question from newsmen in Bauchi on the clashes between alleged Fulani herdsmen and their host communities in some parts of the country, Sheikh Bauchi said if Fulani were killers they would have started the killings hundreds of years back.
According to him, Fulani are known and respected tribes and the killers are only disguising themselves as Fulani in order to paint a particular tribe black.
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“Fulanis are known to have sticks and bow and arrow but you are saying the killers have a gun. Who gives Fulani herdsmen guns? It’s the responsibility of a government to fish out the culprits and punish them,” he charged.
“The Scholar added that if anyone commits a crime, such person should be identified as a criminal and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Fulani people live with people across the world peacefully, why should they take up arms against these people they are living together with hundreds of years ago?, he queried.
He noted that it is the responsibility of every government to protect human life, to protect shedding blood, to protect families, and to protect properties and human dignity.
On the other hand, according to the Sheikh, the responsibilities of the citizenry are to obey the constituted authorities, cooperate with them by being law abiding.
He said: “We have two dominant religions in Nigeria, Islam and Christianity, and both the two religions do not encourage bloodletting of innocent people and take away their properties. Such dastardly act is not permissible in any religion.”
Speaking on the 2019 general elections, Sheikh Bauchi urged the electorates to make use of their Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, and in or out the candidate of their choice, regardless of any religious or ethnic affiliations.
