Senator Shehu Sani, a former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has appealed to the Fulbe Educational Development Association, a socio-cultural Fulani group, to disassociate itself from all forms of criminality, particularly kidnapping and banditry.
Sani made this call when members of the association paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Kaduna.
He expressed concern over the growing negative perception of the Fulani ethnic group due to the activities of criminal elements, noting that such acts have not only endangered lives but also tarnished the image of innocent and law-abiding Fulani people across the country.
“It is high time something is done to redeem the image of the Fulani ethnic group,” Sani said. “You have a moral and patriotic duty to tell your people in your own language to stop the criminality of kidnappings and banditry.”
He urged the group to embark on a deliberate effort to rebuild the image of the Fulani community, describing the ethnic group as historically peaceful and hospitable.
Sani also attributed the rising insecurity in Northern Nigeria to past leadership failures, particularly the inability to provide education for nomadic populations.
He noted that decades of neglect have contributed to the current security challenges facing the region.
“The North is a victim of its own leaders who failed to educate the nomads in our hinterlands. Today, those same neglected populations are contributing to the security crisis confronting the region and the country at large,” he added.