The Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) has called on Federal and State Governments to support fulani herders devastated by insecurity, to restore their means of livelihood.
The call was contained in a communique made available to the media on Tuesday at the end of the group’s meeting with Fulani leaders from the 19 Northern States and FCT.
The communique signed by NCM President, Dr Awwal Aliyu, noted that “banditry activities have been most cruel and devastating to the socioeconomic and political life of the Fulani people more than any other tribes in Nigeria”.
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It therefore said government should redouble efforts to restore normalcy, peaceful coexistence and harmony among Fulani herders and their host communities.
According to the communique, the fulani people deserve compensation for losses incurred all over the country.
The meeting also urged government at all levels to protect the herders from unnecessary intimidation by state officials in the pursuit of their legitimate livelihood.
It also said government needed to have confidence in Fulani leaders and use them to fish out the bad eggs among them.
The participants agreed that proper prosecution and punishment for those found involved in any crisis would serve as deterrent to others.
It warned fulani communities against reprisal attacks, which it noted, had exacerbated the cycle of violence, as innocent people were often the victims of such attacks.
The meeting commended the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activitivities by separatist groups.
“We however appeal to the Federal Government to recruit more security personnel, train and retrain them on the use of modern warfare equipment and strategy to bring to an end this menace.”
The meeting agreed that regular interactions be organised with different groups and tribes to stem the tide of insecurity, particularly in the North.(NAN)