Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bauchi State chapter, has warned that it will no longer tolerate the phrase “Fulani herdsmen attacks” by media organizations, saying that the use of the phrase was uncalled for, ethnocentric and against the Fulani ethnic group, “who are known for hard work, tolerance and development in all facets of life.”

This was contained in a press release, which was signed by the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Hussaini Muhammad, and made available to newsmen in Bauchi.

According to the release, the use of the phrase “Fulani herdsmen attacks” is injustice and ethnic discrimination being shown to the Fulani people, “who are citizens of Nigeria with full rights as protected under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ought not to be discriminated.

“The contribution to the well-being and growth of Nigeria by men of the Fulani ethnic group cannot be over-emphasized. The Fulani herdsmen were the only ethnic group paying the “jangal tax” used for the developmental growth of Nigeria in the early years of independence. The cows gifted and those eaten as meat during festive seasons were all reared by Fulani ethnic group. Leaders of this country, who are from the Fulani ethnic group have done so much to keep this country together for the benefit of all.”

It added, “The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bauchi State branch, wonders why the media despite its professionalism, could stoop so low to label an entire group as “attackers” and when persons from other ethnic groups commit more heinous offences, they are referred to as either unknown gunmen, bandits, ritualists, armed robbers, but not associated with their tribes.

“We observe there is no ethnic group in the entire globe whose men are all pious, as there must be a Judas in every twelve and where the said Judas is identified, he should be called by his act and not his entire group as it is been done to the Fulani ethnic group.

“History has not forgotten that notorious criminals who were arrested or even killed from other Nigerian ethnic groups were referred to by their individual names and not ethnic group. Recently, the Nigerian media reported the criminalities of Terwase Akwaza (a.k.a Gana) being a Tiv man from Benue State, kidnapper kingpin Chukwudubem Onwuamadike (a.k.a Evans) Igbo man from Anambra State, the deadly “Ombatse” cultist group from Egon tribe in Nasarawa State, who murdered the men of Nigerian Police Force and officers of the directorate of State Security Services and Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram, who is a Kanuri man from Borno State, but none was extended to their ethnic groups.” (Daily Independent)