Prominent Hausa and Fulani leaders in Kwara State, alongside the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), have denied any knowledge of an alleged meeting in Ilorin purportedly convened to discuss arming nomadic Fulani (Bororo) herders against banditry.
In a joint press statement issued on Tuesday, the groups dismissed reports credited to the former Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Oyo State, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, who was quoted in a SaharaReporters article as acknowledging awareness of such a meeting.
The statement, endorsed by the leaders, emphasized that no segment of the Fulani community or its associations had held or participated in any meeting relating to security arrangements or the alleged arming of Bororos.
According to the SaharaReporters publication, Abdulkadir had claimed knowledge of the meeting though he did not attend describing Bororos as a volatile group of migrant Fulani herders linked to violent clashes and kidnappings.
Rejecting this account, the Fulani and Hausa leaders said Abdulkadir’s purported comments were misleading and capable of sowing division among communities. They stressed that insecurity affects everyone equally and can only be resolved through collective and coordinated efforts.
“The comments credited to Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir are unfortunate and do not represent the views of Fulani or Hausa leaders in Kwara State,” the statement read. “We completely dissociate ourselves from such divisive remarks and reaffirm our commitment to peace, unity, and the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”
The leaders commended the Kwara State Government and security agencies for their continued efforts to safeguard lives and property, urging the public to disregard any reports that could breed disunity.
MACBAN also reiterated that it had no knowledge of any such meeting or interview involving Abdulkadir, affirming its dedication to peaceful herding practices and ongoing cooperation with security agencies to identify and eliminate criminal elements posing as herders.
