By Naomi Douglas
Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN has accused the journalists of being bias in their reporting on issues regarding to Fulani in the country.
National Adviser on Consesus Movement, Dr. Abubakar Umar Girei, stated this at a press conference organised by Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breaders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN in conjuction with Northern Consesus Movement, NCM in Abuja.
Girei said media has not been fair to Fulanis in the country as far as dissemination of imformation to the public on the issue of insecurity is concern, saying that issues that have to do with Fulanis have been grossly under reporting.
While expressing displeasure over the ways and manners Fulanis have been treated and tagged as criminals in the country, the National Adviser called on the media to always balance their stories.
“Sometimes, I became worried the way Fulanis are being treated as if we are not citizens of this country. Even if Fulanis are being killed, no Journalist reports it. You won’t see such story on pages of newspapers.
“Our major problem, like other speakers have said, in the issue of reporting, journalists have not been fair as Fulanis. The issue of profilling, we have been profilled and it has been circulated in every news by journalists.
“Other tribes or ethnic groups have criminals, but these criminals have not been addressed by the specific name of their tribes or ethnic groups, but Fulani has been singled out of the 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria. “Fulani herdsmen, Fulani killers, Fulani terrorists” you have not been fair to us.We are asking you to be fair and just in your reporting” he said.
Girei said with the population of over 4 million Fulani ethnic group has contributed so much to the economy of the country and they should not be dicriminated against in anyway, saying that Fulanis should be enjoy equal benefits like any other tribe in the country.
Also speaking at the press conference, President of Norther Consesus movement, Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, said the purpose of the Summit was to synergise with other stakeholders in bringing lasting solution to insecurity in the country.
He stated that issues regarding to pastorialism and the Fulani will be delibeerated upon so as to come up with a lasting solution to the menace of insecurity in Nigeria.
Aliyu noted that Fulanis have never been given any consession like other ethnic groups or tribes in Nigeria, asserting that such is disastrous, as he called on the media to play a major role in giving accurate information to the Nigerian polpulace and the world at large.
“Either we like it or not, I think to an estent that there are some levels of unfairness to this particular tribe. You will find out that wherever there is a disaster; there is always an intervention for other tribes or community in Nigeria, but this particular tribe has never enjoyed anything or recognised.
“We have never been giving any relief material and they are most disastrous in the country. Fulani communities, like I said earlier have never received a special consideration and we are citizens of this country. We have every right like any other tribe and we should be recognised as well.
“We are going to gather to discus and come up with a position that we will present to the government, which at the end of the day we are of the opinion that it will provide a roadmap and how to bring to an end the issue of insecurity in Nigeria” he said.
National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngdzarma, while speaking to newsmen at the press conference also expressed worries over the level of stigmatisation and discrimination against Fulanis in the country, adding that Falanis in most cases were being accused of crimes they did not commit.
Ngdzarma revealed that Fulanis have been greatly affected economiccally compared to other tribes in Nigeria as many of their cows; the only means of their livelihood have been killed without reason, especially in the Southern part of the country.
