By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim
I decided to write this since the commencement of Shaykh Gumi’s peace mission to bandits. First and indeed most foremost, I have to commend Shaykh Dr. Ahmad Gumi for negotiating with terrorists in their enclaves. This is highly commendable.
Considering the risk the Shaykh is putting himself to visit these bandits in their enclaves, it is a well done job. And I am happy that we will all understand that fighting crime is everyone’s business. We all want peaceful co-existence. This should serve as a wake up call to other scholars and other religions groups to go into this mission.
What impressed me more is not only hearing from them but preaching Islam to them. I have since understood that lack of religion or religious knowledge is the cause of this.
Sadly, there are some elements in the media spreading negative narratives about this gentleman’s efforts. Peace is for all not only the government. Now that patriotic individuals are joining the fight against insecurity, why are you misinterpreting them?
For the purpose of doubt, let me state that I am writing this in support of Justice. Lest I forget, I am not a Fulani man. But the real situation on the ground is sad. Being a journalist, I have visited villages in my state to ascertain the conditions of these people.
It was sad to learn that these people drink water from ponds, quarries and wells. It is shameful in this present stage of Nigeria. So with this you will realise that they are the first victims of government negligence.
In addition to what I stated above, they have no power supply in some locations. No government presence at all. I don’t know where the elected representatives of these people are. Whether they are aware or not. But they can go for campaign and make promises that are yet to be fulfilled.
Fulanis are also victims. Insecurity started with them, cattle rustling. A Fulani man will just lose his cattle in one night. Those criminals even kill the herdsmen. It was in this regard that operation Sharan Daji was launched to curtail the activities of these criminals.
Recently, what happened in the south must be condemned by all lovers of humanity. It is unconstitutional. These southerners led by one Sunday started chasing out Fulanis by issuing ultimatum and later attacking them. They burned their properties, killed them and eliminated them from their state. For the offence of the few. Who may or may not be related to them. Some of those criminals we are seeing are not even Nigerians from mere indications.
The Fulanis are also Nigerians. They have rights to move and live everywhere. No one should terrorise them. Like the governor of Bauchi state has said, there are Yoruba people in Bauchi. The same with Igbo and others from Taraba. All, none is telling them to vacate from Bauchi only because they have the right to live there.
Personally, I know various people in my state who are from the south. They have been in my state for long. Some more than a decade or even decades. But none is terrorising them. They are in our schools teaching. They are in our markets with their businesses.
Therefore, the attitude of these southerners have to be dealt with or else they will create another problem for Nigeria. So long as the federal government will continue to watch them, the worse the thing will be. The earlier the better
I am surprised that the people (southerners) that came to our states in the north and lived peacefully are today attacking our people down there. It is unfortunate. We didn’t deserve this. Check our schools, ministries, organisations, markets, they are all there. But they decided to pay back with killing our people.
They did not only conduct businesses in the north but also own and acquire properties as it is stated in the constitution. This, however, I know it is not possible in the south. You can’t go there and think you can own a property easily. Even their people are running to our states in the north to live.
The way these people fill our universities and other tertiary institutions is not limited. We are all Nigerians. For example, ABU, BUK and etc. But you as a northerner, especially Muslim, can not dare go there seeking admission. They won’t even give you, talk less of even living comfortably.
As a Muslim, for you to live there, you will suffer a lot of humiliation and persecution. Even their ladies suffer this most. Those that are from the same tribe with them. What of an alien? I am aware that International school Ibadan was dragged to court by the Islamic human rights group, MURIC concerning victimization of hijab wearing Muslims. This is to their people who speak the same language with them.
Recently, the executive governor of Bauchi state, Sen. Bala did well. He spoke for the victims. I have to commend him for his effort in fighting for justice. He can be said to be a champion of human rights. because we can see the so-called human rights groups are quiet.
Therefore, the government should quickly bring perpetrators to book and compensate the victims. I know that not all can be terrorists amongst the Yorubas but those behind the cloud should be fished out. They are the architects of the violence.
Few days after the occurrence of these killings and violence by mostly Yoruba terrorists, the same tribe turned their attack to Hausa people. They killed, destroy all businesses owned by Hausa. This has been their habit anytime they wish.
The issue can be resolved in a very simple way within a short period of time. But they let it turn to violence. Justifying killing every northerner especially Hausa and Fulani. My fear is that these people are playing with fire as the Daily trust editorial said. My fear is that when it starts to burn them, they will feel the heat. My prayer is that they should not cause another problem for Nigeria.
What happened during EndSars protests in the south is still fresh in our memories. They pretended to be protesting against the police unit (SARS) and ended up killing Muslims, northerners and attacking mosques and Muslims properties. The videos are everywhere.
The sad of all is that, the southern media in Nigeria, are not interested in reporting Muslim issues more especially when they are attacked by southerners or christians. But should the reverse happen which we don’t pray for, the whole world will hear them.
Therefore, we all have contributions to give in peace building. I have opined that Fulanis are victims too. Fulanis are victims of government negligence. They are amongst the first victims of leadership failure in Nigeria.
I once said that justice is very important in every society. That’s why Islam emphasised on it. All of us should be treated fairly regardless of our religion, ethnicity or any other thing. We are all humans.
I pray that Nigeria will be better one day for all of us if we really want to. We have to learn to live with each other. May Allah continue to guide and protect us. May He bless our country Nigeria with good leaders.
Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a journalist, fellow African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) 2020. He can be reached via awwalbinibrahim@gmail.com
