The Eminent Elders Forum (EEF) has decried what it termed the ‘ethnic profiling, ethnic cleansing, and dispossession of indigenous ancestral lands by “foreign” invaders.
The elders also lamented a heightened separatists agitations across the country during its a three-day virtual meeting/discussion held between 8th and 11th of August, 2021 on topical issues of ethnic profiling.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the elders on Friday titled “Ethnic profiling, ethnic cleansing, dispossession of indigenous ancestral lands by “foreign” invaders and the heightened separatists agitations across the country, Nigeria.”
The group stated that “President Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani man, is largely responsible for the ethnic profiling of the Fulanis through his utterances and actions” since coming to power in 2015.
It noted that President Buhari, speaking in Cairo, Egypt during the African Union Summit in 2018, gave free entry into Nigeria to foreign Fulanis from all over the continent.
Consequently, the Fulanis on arrival in Nigeria occupied the forests all over the country, and are masterminding “all manners of killings, kidnappings, destruction of farmlands and properties… across the nation.”
EEF identified Fulani cattle herders, under the aegis of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), who believe they own grazing routes and are entitled to possess by force of arms these routes for grazing of their cattle, as the major problem facing Nigeria.
The statement is produced below as follows:
“Background:
Eminent Elders Forum (EEF) comprises of very top ranking senior citizens that have traversed all spheres of human endeavours including the very high politically exposed; high ranking fellows in the executive, legislative, judiciary, police, military, civil, public and private sectors of our country, Nigeria.
Many of the members of the Eminent Elders Forum are far into their retirement from active service but came together to offer elderly advisories, to reminisce, share experiences and contribute to the well being of humanity.
The Eminent Elders Forum is apolitical, non religious, non tribal/ethnic, non racial and non discriminatory body* with current listed membership of over 300 of highly cerebral, accomplished and diversely distinguished eminent elders across the country.
Recently, the body had a three-day virtual Meeting/Discussion, precisely between 8th and 11th of August, 2021 on the topical national issues of Ethnic Profiling,
Ethnic Cleansing, Dispossession of Indigenous Ancestral Lands by Foreign Invaders and the Heightened Separatists Agitations Across The Country Nigeria.
As expected of high level discussions on national issues such as this, the deliberation was highly tasking intellectually, energy sapping and based on facts.
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At the end of the three-day deliberations, Eminent Elders Forum resolved as stated below:
DISCUSSIONS:
THAT the Government of the day in Nigeria, led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani man, is largely responsible for the ethnic profiling of the Fulanis through his utterances and actions particularly since he came into power again in 2015.
Speaking in Cairo, Egypt during the African Union Summit in 2018, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari gave free entry into Nigeria to foreign Fulanis from all over the continent.
These are the same Fulanis who on arrival in Nigeria occupied the forests all over the country, from late 2019 through 2020, during the lock down occasioned by the ravaging Pandemic – COVID-19.
THAT no sooner did these foreign Fulanis occupied the forests than all manners of killings, kidnappings, destruction of farmlands and properties escalated across the nation.
THAT an ethnic group associated with the current President of Nigeria has been fingered in the various odd happenings in Nigeria presently.
Information have filtered through talks by eminent persons that confirms the unfortunate involvement of that ethnic group in the mayhem plaguing the country.
THAT by virtue of their age old occupation as cattle herders, the Fulanis under Miyetti Allah cattle breeders association believed they owned grazing routes in all parts of the Federation and therefore are entitled to possess by force of arms these routes for grazing of their cattle.
Migrating with their cattle causes confrontation with indigenous land owners. However, the magnanimity to accommodate roving band or nomadic people shouldn’t translate to abrogation of traditional rights of land ownership.
Ethnic Cleansing In Nigeria
THAT a lot has been said about the current killings and destruction of properties and total disregard to the sanctity of lives in Nigeria.
There are factors that showed clearly that the current killings have pogromic and ethnic cleansing intents.
These are meticulously planned and systematically executed with the sanctions of the present government and Leadership.
THAT some Fulanis have nursed the ambition of conquest of Nigeria which they also believe is naturally endowed to them.
This has been demonstrated by the Feudal Fulani Leadership, the ruling class in the North as represented by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto in the sixties.
