*Photo: Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State*
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has tasked Fulani community leaders in the state to work with security agencies to identify criminals within their communities.
Speaking in Hausa in a viral video, the governor also urged Fulani leaders to encourage those involved in criminal activities to abandon crime and return home, warning that continued silence over kidnappings and banditry would worsen public distrust.
Bago said released kidnap victims consistently blame Fulani individuals for their ordeals. This, he stated, is driving a wave of public frustration and anger toward the wider Fulani population.
“My relatives, I will not be afraid of you; I had better tell you this. Whoever gets kidnapped in the bush and is later released will say it was Fulanis who kidnapped him.
“So, you should warn your children who are in the bush to return so that we can live peacefully. There is no way people can be kidnapped and made to pay ransom without expecting them to be angry with you.
“People are angry with Fulanis”, he said.