Fulani Communities in Zamfara Demand Justice, Call for End to Violence as Some Bandit Leaders Consider Laying Down Arms
By Zagazola Makama (Rewritten for originality)
Amid the turmoil gripping Zamfara’s forests, voices within the Fulani community are rising — not in war cries, but in pleas for peace. Fulani leaders and herders from across the region are urging an end to the cycle of bloodshed, calling on authorities to address long-standing injustices that they say have fueled the crisis.
For over ten years, Nigeria’s North West has suffered waves of violence — bandit attacks, cattle thefts, mass kidnappings, and reprisal killings have become grim realities. But in an uncommon gesture of reconciliation, Fulani representatives gathered recently in Gusau to signal their readiness to support peace initiatives — if their concerns are sincerely addressed.
The peace-building session, held on May 4, was organized by the Commander of the 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army. It brought together Fulani elders under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), senior security officials, and representatives from the Department of State Services and Zamfara’s police command.
Attendees included Fulani leaders from all 14 local councils in Zamfara. Many used the opportunity to recount years of mistreatment, accusing local vigilantes and some security operatives of enabling or even participating in acts of violence and theft against innocent herders.
“We are not the enemy,” Fulani leaders declare
“I’ve lost over 150 cows to vigilante groups known as Yansakai,” said Salisu Umar, a herder from Maru. “I’ve never taken up arms or joined any group. But people look at us and see bandits. That’s not justice.”
Another herder, Muhammadu Sale, alleged that vigilantes recently stole around 300 cows from a law-abiding Fulani man — with no intention of turning them in for recovery. “Instead, they sold them at the market with the help of corrupt local actors,” he claimed. He also cited another case in Rijiya, Gusau, where 370 animals were allegedly taken and diverted.
Speakers accused Yansakai groups of going beyond their original security role — targeting Fulani communities with deadly force, destroying homes, and rustling livestock. These actions, they said, have only deepened hostility and widened the trust gap.
In Anka LGA, Haruna Dogo shared how ethnic tension has reached the point where Fulani children are shut out from schools in predominantly Hausa towns. “The prejudice is so severe that our kids can’t access education or healthcare. We’re being pushed out of society,” he said.
Victimization, fear, and silent suffering
Several accounts highlighted routine profiling of Fulani youth, with some allegedly arrested, beaten into forced confessions, and killed. “When we try to recover their bodies, we’re accused of aiding banditry,” one elder said.
Another community leader revealed that he hadn’t traveled by car in years, fearing for his life. He described how many Fulani families are now living in remote forests, afraid to return to their villages. “We’re being hunted not for crimes we’ve committed, but for who we are.”
Allegations of collusion and complicity
Perhaps the most troubling claims came from Tsafe’s Alhaji Musa Bature, who alleged that some security agents and vigilantes are complicit in the cattle thefts. “They recover stolen cows but sell them instead of returning them. We see our livestock in markets, and when we report it, nothing happens,” he said.
This perceived lack of justice, leaders warned, is pushing frustrated Fulani youth toward criminal groups, compounding the crisis.
Despite the deep-rooted grievances, Fulani elders say they are not beyond reconciliation. Many at the Gusau meeting expressed a strong desire to work with authorities, provided they are treated fairly and not judged by the actions of a few bad actors.
