After AK-47 comment, Bauchi governor finally speaks on identity of bandits
- Governor Bala Mohammed has shed light on the identity of bandits who kidnap people
- The Bauchi governor said most of these persons are not Fulanis
- Mohammed, however, said some of the criminals are of Fulani extraction who got into Nigeria illegally
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The seeming mystery surrounding the actual identity of bandits who wreak havoc in many parts of the north is beginning to be unravelled.
The governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, during an interview with Channels TV made it clear that not all criminals tagged as bandits are of Fulani origin.
The governor made a distinction between Nigerian Fulani northerners who have no connection with criminals and dangerous foreigners who are illegally residing in the country.
Mohammed warned that except this huge difference is borne in mind, we will just be fighting with ourselves in the anti-terrorism war.
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The Bauchi governor said:
"These bandits are not only Fulanis. In fact, they are terrorising the Fulanis but they have Fulani miscreants within them; they have Hausa, they have Igbo suppliers; they have Yorubas. They're people really benefitting from the illicit trade."
Earlier, Mohammed had said herdsmen were not to be blamed for bearing firearms.
The governor said they are only protecting themselves against cattle rustlers who attack, kill and take away their possessions.
Legit.ng gathered that the governor spoke as a special guest of honour at the launch of the inaugural edition of the Bauchi correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)’s magazine titled ‘Correspondents’ Watch” on Thursday, February 11.
He said:
"The west doesn’t want to accommodate other tribes but we are accommodating your tribe in Bauchi. We have Yorubas who have stayed in Bauchi for over 150 years, some of them have been made permanent secretaries in Gombe, Bauchi and Borno."
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Onyirioha Nnamdi is a graduate of Literature and English Language at the University of Lagos. He is a Politics/Current Affairs Editor who writes on news and political topics for Legit.ng. He brings into his reporting a wealth of experience in creative and analytical writing. Nnamdi has a major interest in local and global politics.
Source: Legit.ng