Fulani Chiefs Deny Link to Kidnapping Cases, Call for Fair Treatment

The Council of Fulani Chiefs in South West Nigeria has condemned what it described as rising ethnic profiling of Fulani people in connection with kidnapping and other violent crimes, insisting that criminal acts should not be attributed to an entire ethnic group.

The leaders made the call following renewed public debate over insecurity and recent kidnapping cases reported in parts of the region, including Ogun State. They said it was unfair and dangerous to label the Fulani community as perpetrators based on the actions of individuals suspected to be involved in criminal activities.

According to the council, many Fulani residents in the South-West are law-abiding citizens engaged in legitimate occupations such as farming, livestock rearing, and trade. They warned that such generalisations risk deepening ethnic tension and undermining peaceful coexistence among communities.

The group also reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate with security agencies in ongoing investigations into kidnapping and banditry cases, stressing that suspects should be identified and prosecuted based on evidence rather than ethnicity.

They urged the public, community leaders, and the media to avoid inflammatory language and narratives that could escalate tensions, calling instead for unity and fair treatment of all groups as authorities continue efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.