Carrying AK47s and killing people are against Fulani culture, says Emir of Zazzau

Nuhu Bamali, the Emir of Zazzau, says real Fulanis do not wield AK47s to terrorise people. 

Bamali spoke on October 12 at a cultural event organised by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO). 

He said a Fulani man is expected to carry a stick and cutlass to fend for his livestock — and no more. 

Bamali added that the actions of a few “bad elements”, as is the case in every ethnic group, should not be used to tar the entire ethnic group.

The emir noted the significance of the event, stating that it was a chance for the Fulanis to show Nigerians who they truly are.

Nigeria has been grappling with an age-long farmer-herder crisis which often degenerates into loss of lives and property.

“I am very, very proud to be a Fulani man. All my ancestors, left and right, were Fulanis. So there is no how I will not be proud of my heritage, my culture, and everything,” he said.

“This is an avenue for us to know who we are, what we stand for, and let everybody in Nigeria and beyond understand who are the true Fulanis and that is the essence of this awareness forum where people from different places… some from Abuja, Lagos, even from Cameroon and Mali, gather. 

“So it is very significant to us so that at least all these nonsense going on about banditry and other things would stop. 

“Yes, the bad eggs which we have in every tribe in this country will stop that rascality. That is our prayer.”

Bamali urged the Fulani to remain proud of their culture and values.

“Fulani should continue to be proud people as always, they should always maintain their values, those core values of a Fulani man,” he added. 

“They should maintain it and sustain it. As a Fulani man, you are not expected to carry an AK47.

“It is not part of the core values of the culture of a Fulani man. But a Fulani man is expected to carry his stick and cutlass to cut grass for his animals.

“This is all that you find in a Fulani man, but definitely not AK47 or not a Fulani man to go and kill people and maim them.

“This is all we are saying. You know Fulanis are very enlightened people, very well educated. The best educated people in this country, I believe, are the Fulanis; I am not being biased.”

Ahmed Shehu, guest speaker and founding secretary of FUDECO, decried the “stereotyping” of Fulanis. 

He said he has been in court with the federal government and 10 newspapers for two years over the stereotyping. 

Shehu compared the treatment of Fulanis in Nigeria to the way Adolf Hitler treated Jews in Germany.

“They were dehumanised and treated as if they are not human beings,” he said.

“Years ago, over 800 Tutsis were killed in Rwanda. They were treated the way the Fulanis in Nigeria are being treated before they started killing them.”

He added that Fulanis abducting and killing people in bushes should be regarded as thieves and murderers. 

“Anyone who is in the bush and causing destruction, is not one of us. The world should hear this. We distance ourselves from him,” he added.

“We have no business with them. They are thieves and we have nothing to do with thieves. They are criminals and should not be referred to as Fulanis because they are not working for the Fulani.”

Abubakar Naseh, FUDECO’s Kaduna coordinator, said the organisation was established after the killing of hundreds of Fulani pastoralists in 2016 and 2017 in Numan, Adamawa state, and in the Mambila Plateau of Taraba state.

Naseh said FUDECO’s objectives include educating pastoralists on protecting their rights as equal citizens, and participating in decision-making to facilitate infrastructure like water, health, and veterinary services.