The Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamalli, has distanced the Fulani community from the rising tide of banditry across Northern Nigeria, asserting that true Fulani men do not engage in criminal activities, nor are they gun-wielding individuals.
The Emir pointed out that the essence of a traditional Fulani man revolves around peaceful cattle rearing, symbolized by his cutlass and stick, not firearms.
According to The PUNCH, speaking at a cultural event hosted by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation on Saturday, Bamalli expressed his pride in his Fulani heritage while lamenting the negative perception of the community due to the actions of a few bad elements.
He emphasized the importance of preserving Fulani cultural values and dispelling the association with banditry.
“I am very, very proud to be a Fulani man. All my ancestors, left and right, were Fulanis. So there is no way I will not be proud of my heritage, my culture, and everything,” the Emir remarked.
While acknowledging the presence of “bad eggs” in every ethnic group, he prayed that their misdeeds would soon end, allowing the Fulani people to continue upholding their dignified way of life.
He added, “Fulani should continue to be proud people as always. They should always maintain their values, those core values of a Fulani man. They should maintain it and sustain it. As a Fulani man, you are not expected to carry an AK47. It is not part of the core values of the culture of a Fulani man. But a Fulani man is expected to carry his stick and cutlass to cut grass for his animals.”
Bamalli further reiterated the cultural identity of the Fulani, emphasizing that violence and the use of guns are alien to their traditional way of life.
“This is all that you find in a Fulani man, but definitely not AK47 or not a Fulani man to go and kill people and maim them. This is all we are saying. You know Fulanis are very enlightened people, very well educated. The best-educated people in this country, I believe, are the Fulanis; I am not being biased,” he added.
The Emir underscored the importance of cultural events such as the one organized by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation, noting their role in educating the Fulani people about their roots and values.
He also highlighted the significance of the event in dispelling misconceptions about the Fulani people, particularly regarding their alleged involvement in banditry.
“This is an avenue for us to know who we are, what we stand for, and let everybody in Nigeria and beyond understand who are the true Fulanis, and that is the essence of this awareness forum,” he stated.
The event, which brought together Fulani individuals from across Nigeria and beyond, including participants from Cameroon and Mali, was viewed by Bamalli as a critical step in reshaping public perception and putting an end to the association of the Fulani community with violence and banditry.
