Fulbe Group Claims Fulani Are Major Victims Of Karim Lamido Crisis

 

A coalition of Fulani Associations in Taraba State have condemned the non inclusion of her members in the committee set up by the State Governor AgbuKefas on the recent crisis in Karim Lamido Local Government Area and other areas in the State.

 

Aishatu Ardo, leader of the group who stated their protest in a Press Statement issued in Jalingo on said that the constitution of the committee is grossly unfair to the Fulani who are the primary victims of the crisis.

 

Ardo who is also the Chairperson of the FulbeDevelopment and Cultural Organization (FUDECO) in Taraba, said that the coalition commends the governor for his peace efforts in the State but insists that for lasting peace to be achieved, justice and fairness must be allowed to prevail.

 

"We are not unmindful of the resolve of His Excellency towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among the people of Taraba state irrespective of their religious belief, ethnic diversity or regional affiliation.

 

"The Coalition hereby condemns in its entirety, the unbalanced composition of the commission of enquiry set up by the Taraba State Government to probe the remote and immediate causes of the recent communal violence in Karim-Lamido local government area of the state. It is very unfortunate that the fulani who are the victims that suffered heavy casualty of both human lives and livestock, will not have a voice on the commission.

 

"We are therefore in alliance with the position of so many voices of concerned citizens who have submitted open letters of protest to the Taraba State Government, raising serious concerns over the composition of the recently constituted Karim-Lamido and other Areas of Crises: Peace and Justice Commission of Inquiry".

 

The coalition also called for more objective reportage of the crisis by the media and for action to be taken against some security officers who have compromised in the discharge of their responsibilities in the area.

 

"We demand from media objective and balanced publications containing all aspects of the story. By so doing, the public confidence in the media could be restored. We decry a situation where the security personnel who are supposed to assist in the restoration of peace in an area turned around to aid and abate crime and criminality.

 

"Specifically, we are concerned about the unethical conduct of one Capt. John Datol, the Ag. C.O. 114 Battalion who led the operations that resulted in the killing of unarmed Fulani civilians in various villages, including Jen Ardido (Wuro Guga), Bandawa, Munga-Lelau, and Munga -Doso.

 

"Furthermore, we appeal for the removal of Capt. John Datol from Taraba State and his investigation for violations of laid down Rules of Engagement of the Nigerian Army as well as human rights violations".

 

She said that the coalition also condemn the suspicious distribution of forms targeted at the Fulani population in the State, requiring "sensitive information" from the people and calls for clarification on the purpose of the forms.

 

"Similarly wish to formally draw the attention of the public to a matter of grave concern involving a controversial form currently being distributed by the state government exclusively to members of the Fulani (Fulbe) community across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.‎

 

"It is important to clarify that the said form is neither for employment nor empowerment purposes.

 

"Its exclusive distribution to only our people raises serious questions about its true intent.If this form was genuinely intended for empowerment or policy-making purposes, it would have been distributed equitably to all citizens of the state, regardless of ethnic or communal affiliation.‎

 

"we have also observed that the form requests highly sensitive personal information—far beyond what is usually required for standard empowerment or welfare initiatives.

 

"This deepens our concerns and justifies our suspicion that there may be a hidden agenda behind this exercise".

 

In view of the above, she said the coalition strongly rejects the form in its entirety and strongly condemn what appears to be an orchestrated attempt by certain authorities to profile, isolate, or marginalize their members under the guise of empowerment.

 

"Such actions are discriminatory, unjust, and unacceptable in a democratic society governed by the principles of equity and fairness.‎‎

 

She called on relevant security agencies to obtain copies of this form, investigate its origin, scrutinize its content, and ascertain the rationale behind its selective distribution to only the Fulani community.‎‎

 

"As citizens of Taraba State, we the Fulani have equal rights and responsibilities. We deserve to be treated with justice, dignity, and fairness in all spheres of governance and public policy.

 

It could be recalled that recent violent clashes among the ethnic groups of Bandawa, Munga-Lelau, Fulani and Munga-Doso has led to the loss of several human lives and livestock as well the destruction of property worth millions of Naira.