Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has pleaded with Fulani herders not to carry AK-47 rifle,s but remain peaceful.
Governor Mohammed had been severely criticized by Nigerians and his counterpart governors after justifying the use of AK-47 weapons by herders.
Making the appeal in his speech at the launch of the 2020/2021 annual livestock vaccination campaign held at the Galambi Cattle Ranch, Bauchi, on Wednesday, February 24, Mohammed described Fulani people as humble, simple, and humane.
According to him: “What I will do, I will not say it here, but I will do everything possible to make sure I protect you and lend support to you because I know you mean well.
“Through time and history, you have been seen to be cajoled, and lampooned but you remained humane, you remained simple, you don’t show so much aggression and of course, that humility is always what we recognized and this is what a character that should always try to show.
“Please, don’t carry the AK-47 that I made a figurative allusion to. Try to make sure that you remain peaceful.”
The governor however noted that he has no apology for kicking against the profiling of Fulani herders as criminals.
He said that his administration was aware of the activities of Miyetti Allah and other Fulani organisations in promoting peaceful coexistence in the state, promoting the well-being of the pastoralists, wealth creation, and conflict mediation in the state and in the country in general.
