Stop portraying us as sole source of insecurity in Nigeria – Fulani council warns US panel

The Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria has called on international actors, including the United States, to avoid framing the Fulani ethnic group as the primary source of insecurity in Nigeria, warning that such narratives could worsen ethnic tensions and deepen mistrust across communities.

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In a statement signed by Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, the group criticised what it described as inconsistent external reporting on Nigeria’s security situation, particularly claims linking Fulani communities to widespread violence and banditry.

The group said earlier assessments from US-linked reporting had cautioned against ethnic generalisation, arguing that recent narratives appear to contradict those warnings.

It also referenced past insecurity debates during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, when public discussions often linked Fulani identity to security challenges in parts of the country. According to the statement, such framing contributed to hostility against Fulani communities, including attacks on settlements, destruction of property and loss of livestock in some regions.

The group argued that conflicts involving herders and farmers are frequently more complex than ethnic explanations suggest, citing land use disputes, environmental pressures and local political factors. It stated that many Fulani families in states such as Benue, Plateau and Taraba have lived in those areas for generations and should not be treated as outsiders or blanket suspects.

The statement also rejected reports attributed to international bodies that allegedly linked “Fulani militants” to large-scale insecurity, describing such claims as “unfair stereotyping” that could inflame divisions.

It maintained that insecurity in Nigeria involves multiple actors and cannot be attributed to any single ethnic or religious group, pointing to banditry, terrorism, separatist violence and communal clashes across different regions.

The group urged both international partners and Nigerian authorities to adopt evidence-based reporting and avoid narratives that risk undermining national unity. “Nigeria’s future cannot be built on ethnic scapegoating, mutual suspicion or divisive narratives,” the statement concluded.